Earth Day

We explain what Earth Day is, why it is celebrated and what its origin is. Also, the anthem of the Earth and other anthems.

earth day
Earth Day seeks to raise awareness about the impact of industrial life on the environment.

What is Earth Day?

International Mother Earth Day or simply Earth Day It is an international anniversary celebrated on April 22 of each year that pays tribute to our planet as a reminder that it is the only one we have and that no ambition or project can be more important than the sustainability of the global biosphere. It should not be confused with other similar celebrations such as World Wildlife Day, for example.

The celebration of this day is part of the initiatives aimed at raising awareness regarding the impact that industrial lifestyle and human overpopulation have on the ecosystem in general. An awareness that becomes more urgent every day, in the face of the climate changes that sustained human industrial activity has caused during the last two centuries, that is, the so-called global warming and/or climate change.

See also: Ecology

Origin of Earth Day

International Mother Earth Day It was first celebrated in 1970 thanks to the efforts of US Senator Gaylord Nelson. This proposal, however, was the heir to efforts to draw the attention of the general public to the effects of pollution on human health that had been done for at least 15 years, with educational initiatives such as the Survival Project at Northwestern University.

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In the first call of this International Day, whose purpose was to request the formation of a national ecological agency, two thousand universities and ten thousand schools from all over the United States attended: 20 million people in total. The pressure on the US government was so great that in the immediate future the Environmental Protection Agency was created (Environmental Protection Agency). This is how the National Environmental Meeting was born (National Environment Teach-In) which ended up being commemorated every April 22.

This event set an important precedent in the environmental struggle and, when the Stockholm Earth Summit was created two years later, it acquired meaning beyond American national borders, which is why it soon began to be held in different countries around the world. Today, it is celebrated in 180 different countries every year.

Why is Earth Day important?

The importance of this and other celebrations of the environmental calendar has to do with raising awareness and educate the population regarding the consequences that population growth and industrial activity have on the environment without controls. Pollution, loss of biodiversity, climate instability and the expansion of deserts are just some of the worrying effects that our lifestyle has on the planet.

The celebration of International Mother Earth Day aims not only to make environmental problems visible, but also to contribute to the creation of an international community in defense of the environment in order to be able to exert pressure at the local and regional level on governments, companies and international organizations regarding conservationism and defense of the environment.

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Ideas to celebrate Earth Day

earth day how to celebrate it
Community activities can be organized on Earth Day.

Some ideas to celebrate Earth Day are:

  • Celebrate informative conferences on environmental and conservation issues.
  • Organize public days of planting trees and plants.
  • Make local marches to demand responsible ecological policies.
  • Educate neighbors on garbage and recycling separation.
  • Be part of environmental fairs and volunteer calls.
  • Check our homes for water leaks and energy waste and solve them.
  • Organize a collection for a environmental library community.
  • Do not use combustion vehicles all day unless it's an emergency.
  • Educate future generations in matters of environmental responsibility.

Earth Anthem

The anthem of the Earth is a song that pays tribute to planet Earth, its diverse ecosystems and the organic wealth of its living beings covering flora, fauna and human beings.

Although there are several songs or melodies that could meet this requirement, the most important one was the written and composed by the poet WH Auden and the musician Pau Casals respectively, at the request of the then Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), the Burmese U Thant (1909-1974), in 1971. The idea was that said anthem would end up representing the UN in its entirety and celebrating the meeting fraternal relationship between nations and their inhabitants.

In addition to Earth Day, other important environmental events are:

  • World Environmental Education Day, celebrated on January 26.
  • The World Day of Action against Global Warming, celebrated on January 28.
  • World Wildlife Day, celebrated on March 3.
  • World Responsible Consumption Day, celebrated on March 15.
  • World Recycling Day, celebrated on May 17.
  • World Oceans Day, celebrated on June 8.
  • Arbor Day, celebrated on August 29.
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Continue with: Sustainability

References

  • “Earth Day” on Wikipedia.
  • “Earth Day Facts: Why is it celebrated? Where did it start?” in National Geographic in Spanish.
  • “Why celebrate Earth Day?” in Saving the Amazon.
  • “Environmental calendar” in the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina).