Earth Day
Significance of Earth Day 2023
Earth Day is an event observed annually on April 22. It is a day held to demonstrate and promote environmental awareness and calls for the protection of our planet. Today, Earth Day, is celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.
History of Earth Day
The equinoctial Earth Day is celebrated on the March equinox (around March 20) to mark the precise moment of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and of astronomical autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. An equinox in astronomy is that point in time (not a whole day) when the Sun is directly above the Earth's equator, occurring around March 20 and September 23 each year.
The history of Earth Day dates back to 1970 when it was first celebrated in 1970. It was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson to promote ecology and the respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution. The first Earth Day celebrations took place in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States.
When 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest honour given to civilians in the United States) for his role as Earth Day founder. Today, it now is observed in 192 countries, and coordinated by the non-profit Earth Day Network.
Traditions of Earth Day
Traditionally, Earth Day is viewed as a time of environmental consciousness and awareness. It is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth such as the planting of trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches.
Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction. Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.