The health of our planet is important to our well-being. The less we care about the environment the more polluted it will become. Not just to us but all living things. Climate change will continue to get worse if we don’t make the effort to care and practice a more eco-friendly lifestyle. At the end of the day, the Earth is our home so why wouldn’t we want to care for it?
Earth Day is an annual event that happens every year on April 22nd. It first started on April 22, 1970, due to the vast amount of leaded gas used in automobiles while the industry let out smoke and sludge without thinking of the consequences. This was until the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. “It raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health” (earthday.org). Therefore we now have Earth Day to take the time to appreciate the Earth we have and encourage eco-friendly practices.
So what are some things you can do to celebrate Earth Day?
- If you are looking for an event to attend and be part of, visit the official Earth Day website under the event tab and search to see what’s around you. If there is no in-person event near you, there will be some virtual events that you can attend.
- It’s so easy to go out for even just 30 minutes in your neighborhood or local park and pick up trash. Bring some gloves and a trash bag and clean up any trash you can find! You’d be surprised to see how much trash you find. Make sure you recycle the litter that can be recycled and dispose of the rest. Linda Smith from SNU says, “Honestly not even just for Earth Day but just any day when walking around campus if I see a piece of trash I pick it up and throw it away.”
- Show some love to our trees and plant one yourself! “Trees capture carbon, cool down overheated places, benefit agriculture, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and boost local economies,” says almac.com. Think about planting on your own property or even, if allowed, on public property.
- Go out and embrace nature! Mother Nature has provided us beautiful things on our Earth so go out and enjoy it. Find a path you can go on a walk, run, a bike ride on, or even a trail for hiking. It is important to stay on the trail and not to mess with the environment off-trail. When you’re out, enjoy nature and be grateful for the beauty of the Earth.
These are just some of the many ways you can go out and celebrate Earth Day but it doesn’t have to stop on April 22nd. Even after, remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle!