By Beth David, Editor
Earth Day is 50 years old this year, and it will be digital. Wednesday, 4/22, is the official date of Earth Day, but activities that support the natural earth will be happening all week.
This year’s theme is climate action.
“The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary,” reads a post on the website. “Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.”
Earth day began 50 years ago as a unified response to pollution, including rivers so polluted they actually caught fire.
On 4/22/1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for the planet.
“The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event,” according to the website.
After that first Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency was created and the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created. Other countries soon followed.
Tune in
Tune into Earth Day Live from April 22–24, at https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-live/. The digital actions will “flood the world with messages of hope, optimism, and above all — action.”
Register your event
Register your event here: https://www.earthday.org/actions/register-your-earth-day-event/
Share
Share your event on Social Media: Visit https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-live/ for link.
From the Website
“The urgency has never been greater, and the stakes have never been higher — we are now in an environmental emergency and a climate breakdown. We have two crises: One is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The other is a slowly building disaster for our climate.
“To meet this moment, we must build the largest, most diverse online mobilization in history in defense of the environment. Our world needs a united response for bold action.
“• On Earth Day 2020, we say enough is enough.
“• We say we believe in science. We say that everyone can make a difference.
“• We say that the protection of our planet and the wellbeing of the people who live upon it are the top priorities.”
To learn more about Earth Day visit https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/
Please join earthday.org for virtual events, and make sure your own, events adhere to guidelines for safe, social distancing. For example, simply clean up what you can along the bike path as you use it, instead of gathering a large group to do so; or pick up trash in your own neighborhood as you walk. Take a picture, send it to NeighbNews@comcast.net so we can share it with our readers.
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Click here to download the entire 4/23/20 issue: 04-23-20 Daffodils
