How to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. This worldwide event began in 1970 and now encompasses an assortment of events organized by EarthDay.org. More than 1 billion people across 193 countries take part in the day’s celebration. The theme for Earth Day in 2022 is Invest in Our Planet. What can you do to celebrate Earth Day? Read on to discover activities and songs you can use to celebrate this day! Listed below are some ways to participate.

Origins

Earth Day is a worldwide event celebrated on April 22 every year. Its first celebration took place on April 22, 1970, and includes a number of events coordinating the efforts of nearly one billion people in 193 countries. The theme for the 2022 celebration is “Invest in Our Planet”.

It was a difficult time for the environment, with few laws and regulations in place to protect it. The Environmental Protection Agency was not yet established, so many industries were spewing pollution without fear of legal repercussions. Against this backdrop, the counterculture arose, which protested the Vietnam War and promoted environmental protection. As a result, a young man named Gaylord Nelson became a prominent promoter of environmental protection and is now regarded as the father of Earth Day.

The origins of Earth Day are difficult to pinpoint, but we can trace the movement’s evolution to the 1960s. During this period, grassroots activism arose against toxic pesticides, including DDT, in Nassau County, New York. Also, environmental groups began voicing their concerns about open air nuclear weapons tests and the global fallout from them. Senator Gaylord Nelson and other environmentalists decided to organize a national teach-in on April 22, 1970. A number of protestors took to the streets demanding action to protect the environment.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated worldwide. Its creation in 1970 was inspired by several events that happened during the 1960s. Some credit the first Earth Day to the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969, while others cite Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962, which exposed the dangers of pesticides like DDT. Since then, Earth Day has grown into a global movement and is now widely recognized as a major civic event.

Significance

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. The gathering of 20 million people marked the beginning of a global environmental movement. This day sparked initial public policies and a global consciousness on environmental issues. While it didn’t end the environmental crisis, it did make many people realize that they must take action to protect the environment. Today, we celebrate the day as a way to spread awareness about environmental problems. But how did it get started?

The idea for Earth Day came from US Senator Gaylord Nelson, who demanded concrete action to protect the environment. Nelson worked hard to bring environmental issues to the political stage. In addition to bringing attention to environmental issues, Earth Day has led to the passage of numerous environmental laws. These laws include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and more. While this list continues to grow, its importance remains unchanged.

While the 1960s were an exciting time for ecology in the US, it was not until the late 1960s that environmental activism began to take shape. In Nassau County, New York, a grassroots movement began to push back against the use of the insecticide DDT. The same activism began to emerge against open-air nuclear weapons tests and global fallout from them. Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring”, further fueled the movement.

Twenty years after the first Earth Day, the United Nations Environment Program was created in Stockholm, Sweden. The event brought international public policies to the forefront. At the 1992 Rio Summit, world leaders agreed on two main conventions, the Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biodiversity. Despite this, many still have doubts, but these aren’t the most significant achievements of Earth Day. So, it’s worth celebrating every Earth Day!

Activities

If you are an employer, why not take your employees to an Earth Day event? This event not only helps your employees learn about sustainable practices, but it also helps the planet. With binoculars and other tools, you can even spot birds. If you want to go a step further, try educating employees about the effects of cell phone radiation and other harmful materials. You can even have a guest speaker or show a short film to spread awareness of the environment.

Kids can learn through hands-on activities that encourage them to think about the environment and preserve it for future generations. Try tying natural items and teaching children about weather patterns. Or, let them recreate the layers of the earth by using modeling clay and other materials. Whether you’re planning to do a school project or organize a neighborhood cleanup, these activities will engage kids in a variety of ways that promote sustainability. And you can be proud to tell your students that your community is doing its part to save the planet, too!

Another simple and fun Earth Day activity is going for a nature walk. You can take the children on a photo tour of local flora and fauna and discuss the basics of the ecological system. Don’t forget to follow the COVID-19 protocols to avoid contaminating the environment. If the weather turns nasty, plan a rainy day activity or another location. That way, you’ll be prepared if something unexpected happens.

Recycling is also an important environmental habit. Reusing food waste and recyclable materials is another way to reduce waste. In addition to recycling, you can compost your garden waste, which will grow into nutritious compost. This will not only benefit your garden but will teach your children to protect the planet. You can also create beautiful containers or vase-shaped structures out of Popsicle sticks. They are fun, educational, and will be remembered for many years to come.

Songs

With the environmental crisis affecting many regions, there are several Songs for Earth Day that celebrate our environment. This year, some of the biggest names in music have penned tunes about climate change. From rap to folk, you can find a wide variety of music to promote the cause. Check out some of these selections below. And don’t forget to share the songs on social media! Listed below are just a few of the many songs that celebrate Earth Day.

“Hawaii” by Joni Mitchell is an excellent song that has an Earth Day theme. Mitchell was inspired by her vacation to Hawaii, where she noticed the lush mountains on one side and a long, narrow pavement beneath. Many people find the idea of replacing the landscape with a parking lot offensive. Parking lots are often seen as ugly wastelands that sit empty more often than they are in use. But, it doesn’t have to be this way!

“Sunshine on My Shoulders” is another great Earth Day song. First recorded in 1969, this song was a favorite at many of the first Earth Day events. It was later added to by Pete Seeger and has been performed many times. During a 1974 Sesame Street LP, it was performed by Oscar the Grouch. Oscar was even invited to perform at Seeger’s 90th birthday concert in 2009.

In 1983, R.E.M. released a classic tune about environmental activism. Bill Berry stated in a Spin magazine interview that the tune was about acid rain. Fossil fuels release nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, which harms ecosystems. Acid deposition damages waterways, trees, and marine animals, and causes steel and stone sculptures to corrode. In addition, these songs have a cosmic aesthetic.

Impact on society

The 1970s saw the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other major environmental laws followed. In the US, the use of DDT was largely banned, and other industrialized countries soon followed suit. Earth Day’s impact was felt globally, too, as the Environmental Protection Agency became a permanent fixture of the United States government. The threat of climate change sparked a new political party in Switzerland. But what happened after Earth Day?

The first Earth Day was an uneven success. Some rallies were larger than expected, while others were tiny. Many participants felt that the issues of civil rights, poverty, and the Vietnam War were more pressing. Organizers were also questioned over the motives of their cause. Furthermore, the day coincided with the birth of Lenin, and some observers wondered whether the first Earth Day was a communist plot to make Americans care about the environment.

The global Earth Day celebration is observed by 1 billion people, which is only a fraction of the population of 7 billion. However, despite the global increase in awareness, the media and social networks still don’t devote adequate time to spreading awareness. Educating children about the importance of sustainability is a great way to make a difference in society. Education can help change habits from childhood, so that future generations will be more aware of Earth Day.

The first Earth Day was held in 1970, and more than 20 million people took part, making it the largest civic event in history. It helped compel governments to take action, passing laws and establishing agencies to protect the environment. And it also demonstrated the power of mass action. The impact of Earth Day on society was far-reaching. The 1970s brought a more aware public to the environment. In fact, the United Nations signed the Paris Climate Agreement on the same day.