Today, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day! This is a holiday dedicated to celebrating Planet Earth and all of its beauty. Across the United States and around the world events are held to celebrate the beauty of Earth. Many volunteer campaigns happen in which people assist in trash pick-up projects and tree planting projects. While you may assume a holiday celebrating our planet has been around for centuries, the holiday is actually quite new in the history of the world.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970.
In 1970, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin organized a nationwide demonstration focusing on environmental issues. They goal was to raise awareness on the environmental issues and ideally encourage people to take action. Across the United States, rallies and protests occurred, with awareness of the environment spreading rapidly. The rallies and protests proved successful, as by the end of 1970, Congress formed the Environmental Protection Agency, an agency that has been focused on bettering the environment since its formation.
While the Senator’s mission was ultimately successful in 1970, they did not feel the work was done and continued to raise awareness, eventually formalizing the day we now know as Earth Day. Word spread around the world of the celebration overtime. By 1990, just two decades after the first Earth Day, a form of Earth Day was celebrated in over 140 different countries.
What are some common ways to celebrate Earth Day?
Plant a Tree
Tree planting is one of the most common ways to celebrate Earth Day. Many organizations often host tree planting events in which they will go to a local park or neighborhood and plant trees in a designated area. With deforestation being such a massive issue in the country, planting more trees is always beneficial. They often provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as squirrels and birds, plus they absorb CO2 and produce oxygen in return, helping to clean the air by merely existing!
Turn off the Lights When They are Not Needed
Unnecessary light usage takes up a shocking amount of electricity and can further the issues connected to climate change. This means that simply turning off the lights when they are not needed actually helps the environment! Plus, it is a super easy way to honor Planet Earth!
Help Pick-Up Trash
This is something you can do daily or on Earth Day as a part of an event. With daily practice, you can just simply pick up litter whenever you see it and see that it is properly disposed of. However, you can also participate in an Earth Day pick-up event. Similar to how tree planting works, many organizations host trash pick-up events on Earth Day. Usually, they are cleaning up city streets and beaches.
