The 54th Earth Day is just around the corner. What is Earth Day? How did it come about? And what can we do to celebrate it?
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual event held on 22 April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first observed on 22 April 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately urged Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Addressing dangerously serious issues of toxic drinking water, air pollution and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans - 10% of the population - ventured outdoors and protested together.
It now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network), involving 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. And the official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics".
Why Do We Need to Celebrate This Day?
The Earth is our home, we live on it. Its forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the water we use to irrigate our crops. Our planet needs our help to thrive and live longer and healthier, and the responsibility lies with each of us!
Today, as climate change, caused by increased human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, becomes more serious, it is already having far-reaching effects on the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, river and lake ice is breaking up earlier, the geographical range of plants and animals is shifting...
It has become imperative that we take action to save our home.
What Can We Do to Celebrate This Day: This Earth Day, Do Your Part!
We can all make a positive difference on this planet, every single action can help create a better future. There are many things we can do every day to help save our home! Here are the things you can do right now with imoo!
1. Conserve Water
Do not leave the water running while you brush your teeth. If your tap is leaking, get it fixed in good time! Do not use running water to wash your hands.
2. Walk, Cycle or Take Public Transport
Be car conscious, try walking or cycling instead of driving. It will help reduce greenhouse gases and make a difference. You'll also get some exercise and burn some calories.
3. Save Electricity
Replace traditional lighting in your home with LEDs. Reduce unnecessary use of decorative lighting and switch off lights and electronics when leaving a room. Spend more time outdoors!
4. Plant A Tree
Plants naturally absorb carbon from the air and remove pollutants from the air. So planting a tree is also good for the planet.
5. Avoid Plastics
According to one statistic, people around the world buy 1 million plastic water bottles every minute and use up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags every year. But few of these are recycled. So break the cycle now! Stop drinking bottled water and say no to plastic shopping bags and use cloth bags instead.
There are many things we can do to help save the Earth! But the most important thing is that you, the imooers, get involved now and we can help make our homes nicer and healthier!
