“Earth is a small town with many neighborhoods in a very big universe.”
― Ron Garan, The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles
Earth Day is observed worldwide on April, 22nd and 2015 marks its 45th anniversary. Founded by former United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day was intended to promote ecology and respect for life on our planet. The first Earth Day resulted in the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Air Act . On the first Earth Day back in 1970, over 2,000 United States colleges and universities participated, along with 10,000 primary and secondary schools. Earth Day is a celebration among global citizens used to encourage action and awareness of urgent issues affecting human life, all animals species, soil, water and air pollution. So what can we do right now?
Share information. Educating ourselves is the only way to save our planet and help children understand taking care of Mother Earth is a moral imperative. We have the ability to stop, improve or involve ourselves in some form of resolution for the following disturbing facts.
The average person tosses out about 4 pounds of garbage every single day. 84 percent of our garbage is recyclable.
Half the world’s tropical and temperate forests are now gone. Forests around the globe provide habitats for thousands of animal species which are being destroyed or endangered, gravely upsetting the balance of our ecosystems.
Every ton of paper that's recycled saves 17 trees.
During a 2011 Earth Day celebration, 28 million trees were planted in Afghanistan by the Earth Day Network.
Art, instruments and other trinkets manufactured with ivory can only be made from dead elephants. Don't buy, sell, trade or promote ivory. Don't promote or condone trophy hunting.
Approximately 5 million tons of oil produced in the world each year ends up in the ocean.
Water pollution comes from many sources including pesticides, fertilizers and other toxic substances that wash away from industrial factory waste, untreated human wastewater, and farms. Talk to your local government representatives to see what's being done to prevent water pollution and how its affecting your family, community, food and health.
Plastics contained in garbage dumped in our oceans kills at least 1 million creatures each year. Last week alone pollution from excessive garbage caused the death of more than 37 tons of fish in the Rodrigo de Freitas lake in Rio de Janeiro.
It may seem unbelievable for many of us who have instant access to tap water, 24/7 but 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water. Only 3% of the world's water is available to us, and soon we will run out. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity
Earth Day is a time to take action, reflect, honor and be grateful for the natural resources and beauty of our planet. But Earths resources are limited and our time is limited. Its the only home we've ever known because its the only home we have.
A special Happy Birthday to Chuck on April 20th.
