Earth Day is April 22, 2021. This will be the 51st anniversary of the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, when millions of people marched to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development. Smog was becoming a deadly problem in the U.S. and around the world. There was growing evidence to suggest that developmental delays in children were linked to pollution and the overuse of pesticides and other pollutants was threatening the biodiversity of the Earth.

The US Congress and President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency in July 1970 and passed environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

More than one billion people in 192 countries will participate in Earth Day activities this year. It is the largest civic observance in the world.

This year, the Biden Administration will convene a global climate summit on Earth Day.

People will march, plant trees, sign petitions, meet with elected officials, participate in cleanup efforts in their towns and along highways. Corporations will pledge to follow environmentally responsible business practices and governments will pledge to pass and enforce laws that will protect the earth.

Previous Earth Day themes selected by Earth Day Network have included ending Plastic Pollution on a global scale and Protecting Our Species. Though progress has been slow, more communities are committing to work toward 100% recycling of plastics and eliminating single-use plastics. The rapid extinction of species in our world today is the result of human activity. Rapid reduction of plant life and wildlife populations can be linked to climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution, and pesticides. Great care must be taken to save endangered and threatened species such as bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales, trees, plants, birds, fish sharks crustaceans, sea turtles, and great apes.

This year, Earth Day Network has selected Restore Our Earth as the theme for Earth Day.

The goals of Earth Day Network for restoring our Earth include:

1.       Focusing on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking to restore the world’s ecosystem.

2.       Work to end the myth that mitigation or adaptation is the only way to address climate change.

3.       Realizing that a healthy planet is not an option – it’s a necessity. We must all address climate change to save our jobs, support our livelihoods, health, happiness, and survival.

4.       Building and activating a global movement to embrace nature and its values by organizing cleanups and supporting reforestation by planting trees which will help prevent soil erosion, provide homes and food for many animal species, purifying the air we breathe, and helping to regulate local temperatures.

5.       Encouraging individual actions such as adopting a plant-based diet and eliminating pesticide and herbicide use.

What can you do this year to support Earth Day?

1.       Pick up trash in a neighborhood park or playground with your friends or family.

2.       Stop using plastic straws – if you need to use straws, choose silicone, or metal reusable straws. They are inexpensive, reusable, and come with cleaning brushes to make cleanup easier.

3.       Reuse, reduce and recycle – consider buying some items in bulk to reduce packaging waste or store foodstuffs in reusable glass jars instead of plastic containers.

4.       Plant a bee-friendly garden and/or plant trees.

5.       Support efforts to stop poachers or trophy hunters from killing animals from the threatened or endangered species list.

6.        Write/email your elected officials and let them know you support legislation to combat climate change and protect endangered species.

7.       Do some research and get the facts about climate change.

Information for this article was taken from https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/?gclid=CjwKCAjwr_uCBhAFEiwAX8YJgfrb8trfyIF9V0eW8ATuKRvGTwl3MA32qHW0PGYoHZFNyu_uWX_i3hoC7DcQAvD_BwE