15 Great Facts About Earth Day

The Earth flag.Author John McConnell. WIKIMEDIA

15 Great Facts About Earth Day

Human activities have caused problems for Earth. Ecosystems are disappearing, the ozone layer is thinning, and individuals are losing their lives or succumbing to thirst. Moreover, we are witnessing the growing extinction of endangered species, the pollution of our water and air, and severe weather patterns.

Thankfully, we can all take action in response to this frightening picture! One of the earliest global campaigns for the preservation and protection of the environment, Earth Day, has grown into an annual occasion that promotes change on a global level. Every year on April 22, Earth Day is held to show support for environmental conservation. It attempts to motivate people, groups, organizations, and governments all around the world to take action and contribute to the preservation of the environment. Originally celebrated on April 22, 1970, it today features a variety of activities organized internationally by EARTHDAY.ORG and 1 billion participants in more than 193 nations. Invest In Our Earth is the designated topic for 2023.

Read more 15 Great Facts About Earth Day;

1. Gaylord Nelson was the Founder of the Day

Picture of the Governor of Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson.Unknown Author. WIKIMEDIA

Former US senator and company founder Gaylord Nelson came up with the concept after seeing the Santa Barbara, California, the oil spill in 1969. He was influenced by the zeal of the student anti-war agitation and thought it was crucial that the focus be directed to issues with pollution of the environment.

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2. Earth Day Always Takes Place on April 22 

Earth Day habitat restoration in Discovery Park, Seattle, 2002. Author Seattle Municipal Archives. WIKIMEDIA

For the first Earth Day, Senator Nelson chose April 22 because it coincided between Spring Break and final examinations, maximizing student engagement and attendance. The demonstrations and celebrations have been maintained on the same day in order to encourage more college students to participate. Every year, hundreds of marches, performances, and outdoor events are planned throughout the world.

3. The first Earth Day was Celebrated on April 22nd, 1970

Senator Nelson and youth activist Denis Hayes worked together to plan the inaugural Earth Day in 1970. They chose the date of April 22 because it was the last day of the academic year and would allow most students to participate. The event was initially intended to be a teach-in on campus.

Amazingly, Nelson, Hayes, and their group were successful in promoting events around the Country and conveying the message widely and in the national media

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4. Earth Day was almost called ‘Environmental Teach-in’

Image by Sergio Cerrato – Italia from Pixabay

Senator Gaylord Nelson, who founded Earth Day, had first suggested calling it “Environmental Teach-In.”The name was later modified to “Earth Day,” which became popular as a more remembered and appealing alternative. The holiday’s moniker was created by New York advertising writer Julian Koenig.

5. The  First Earth Day occasion was a Massive Success

20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration, which was a huge success. They participated in a protest in favor of the cause. Amazingly,  because of their common principles, organizations that had previously been protesting independently on different environmental problems joined forces that day.

Interestingly, the inaugural Earth Day aided in bringing about change by putting environmental conservation on the political radar. The United States Environmental Protection Agency was established in the same year, and the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts were quickly approved.

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6. Earth Day went Global in 1990

Image by Shameer Pk from Pixabay

Interestingly, Earth Day expanded internationally in 1990, reaching 200 million individuals in more than 140 nations. By the turn of the century, it had spread to more than 180 nations and engaged hundreds of millions of people all over the world. The 50th milestone of Environment Day was officially celebrated in 2020.

7. Earth Day activities in 1990 Gave a Huge Boost to Recycling Efforts worldwide

Recycling efforts around the globe received a major boost in 1990 as a result of Earth Day festivities. Also, it paved the ground for the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit that took place in 1992. In contrast to the original Earth Day in 1970, this 20th Anniversary campaign had access to more television and radio time, stronger marketing tools, and was worth millions of dollars in budgets.

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8. There are Songs that are Used to Celebrate Earth Day

Many songs and musical works are performed to commemorate Earth Day. The 2013 composition Earth Anthem by Indian poet Abhay Kumar is one of the most well-known songs associated with Environment Day. Earth Anthem by The Turtles, Mother Earth by Neil Young, Earth Song by Michael Jackson, and Earth Hour Anthem by Andrew Huang are some additional songs with a similar subjects. Many songs, like these, have been used to raise awareness of environmental issues and to appreciate the wonders and richness of the natural environment.

9. It is Celebrated Each Year with a Different Theme

People across the world celebrate Earth Day, which has a different theme every year. The theme for 2023 is “Invest In Our Earth.” The Earth Day 2022 theme was  “Reimagine, Recreate, Restore”. The topic for Earth Day in 2021 was Repair Our Planet, which highlighted how interrelated everything is. Thus, in order to protect everyone, we must defend Planet. The theme for 2019 was “Protect Our Species,” and Earth Day raised awareness of the damage caused by human activity.

10. The Theme for Earth Day 2003 was the Water for Life Campaign

The Water for Life Campaign served as the topic for Environment Day 2003. What’s in Your Water is an initiative on water quality that Earth Day Network created this year. Water-related activities were organized in Togo, Egypt, and Canada, among other places on every continent. Water-related educational materials included lesson plans, teacher’s manuals, water-testing kits, and posters.

11. Earth Day is the Largest Secular Observance in the World

Photo by Artem Podrez:www.pexels.com

Although being observed for over 20 years almost solely in the US, Earth Day is now recognized as a global holiday and is observed in over 192 nations. Every year, one billion people from all over the world band together and mobilize for the same goal of raising awareness of environmental issues and taking action on climate change.

12. A Billion Acts of Green were achieved on Earth Day in 2012

Earth Day 2012 saw the completion of A Billion Acts of Green. The  Earth Day Network announced the achievement at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio. Interestingly, it is the largest environmental service initiative in the world.

A Billion Actions of Green, claims to motivate and honor both small-scale individual actions. In addition, recognizing bigger corporate actions that encourage sustainability and contribute to the objective of significantly lowering carbon emissions

13.2016’s Earth Day was a Particularly Special Year

Being the year the Paris Agreement was approved by the UN, 2016’s Earth Day was particularly noteworthy. This international agreement, which was signed by 175 nations, created legally enforceable goals for addressing the environmental crisis. Amazingly, it made sure that as many states as possible were cooperating to lower pollution and combat global warming.

14. Earth Day 2020 was celebrated online due to the COVID-19 pandemic

“Climate action” was this year’s topic for Earth Day 2020. Several of the planned events were shifted online because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Significantly, a coalition of young activists led by the Future Coalition staged Earth Day Live, a three-day webcast celebrating the anniversary of the founding of Earth Day in the United States. Five themes were the focus of the celebrations: citizen science, volunteerism, community participation, outreach, and the contribution of art to the cause.

15. There are Different Activities to do on Earth Day

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On Earth Day, many things may be done to better the environment, such as picking up trash, cleaning the beaches, and planting more trees. Earth Day events instruct people on how to lower their carbon footprint, enjoy all that the world has to offer and take actions to safeguard the environment. Some people utilize this day to promote the value of recycling.

This significant holiday informs people of the impact their actions have on the environments and habitats in which they dwell. Furthermore, it affects not just the environment negatively but also people’s wellness, access to nutritious food and water, safety, and way of life. Individuals choose to participate by making thoughtful choices like reusing more, utilizing renewable fuel, and saving water.