Earth Day 2023: Earth Day was founded by American senator Gaylord Nelson in the form of environmental education. This day commenced on April 22, 1970, and today more than 1 billion people in 192 countries of the world are celebrating Earth Day. Earth Day is now a global event each year; it is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.
As scientific innovations are taking place around the world, the pace of environmental degradation is also increasing. So to increase awareness about environmental degradation some individuals and institutions have come forward for this good cause.
Mahatma Gandhi once said that "nature has enough resources to fulfil the needs of the human being but it can't fulfil the greed of the humans".
Earth Day 2023: Theme
The theme of Earth Day 2023 is "Invest In Our Planet".
The theme of Earth Day 2021 was "Restore Our Earth".
Earth Day Network (EDN), the organization that leads Earth Day worldwide, has chosen the theme of Earth Day-2018, "End Plastic Pollution". Earth Day Network is educating millions of people about the health and other risks associated with the use and disposal of plastics, including pollution of our oceans, water, and wildlife, and about the growing body of evidence that plastic waste is creating serious global problems.
Why is Earth Day observed in the month of April only?
April 22 has become an important date as this is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the USA; “spring break” is observed so schools are closed.
The first Earth Day celebrations took place in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly 10,000 primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States.
In April 1970, around 20 million Americans come out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favour of environmental reform. In April month; other countries of the world have good weather to take part in the demonstration in India schools and colleges are closed and the weather is also very nice.
How is Earth Day named?
Gaylord Nelson said that he had taken the help of his friends in deciding on the name of Earth Day. Julian Koenig was on Nelson's organizing committee said that the idea came to him by the coincidence of his birthday with the day selected, April 22; "Earth Day" rhyming with "birthday," the connection seemed natural.
Ron Cobb created an ecology symbol and published it on October 25, 1969. The symbol was a combination of the letters "E" and "O" taken from the words "Environment" and "Organism", respectively. Later on, this symbol is associated with Earth Day. The theme for Earth Day 2020 was climate action.
Solve| Earth Day Quiz 2023, check important GK Questions and Answers on nature Earth
The factors that destroy the Earth's environment are as follows
1. Polyethylene is one of the most polluting elements of the world. Plastic pollution is poisoning our land and oceans, injuring marine life, and affecting our health. The theme of Earth Day- 2018 is also based on plastic pollution "End Plastic Pollution".
2. Deforestation for commercial purposes
3. Lesser awareness in the mass about environmental protection around the world
4. Exploiting the nature of the human being. Human wants to fulfil their greed from nature, which is next to impossible.
5. The neutrality of environmental protection laws all over the world.
In the year 2020, the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day was celebrated. The annual celebration of Earth Day acknowledges the accomplishments of the environmental movement and promotes the importance of preserving the planet's natural resources for coming generations. In the United States, Earth Day is observed on April 22. Elsewhere in the world, it is observed on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox occurs.
The objectives of Earth Day celebrations and initiatives around the globe, can be categorised into ten main topics:
- Advocacy
- Climate Change
- Conservation & Biology
- Education
- Energy
- Food & Agriculture
- Green Economy
- Green Schools
- Recycling & Waste Reduction
- Sustainable Development
The year-round support of the Earth Day objective is provided through the Earth Day Network (EDN), which unites more than 20,000 partners and organisations in 190 countries. Through advocacy, public policy, and education initiatives, this mission is built on the tenet that everyone, regardless of race, gender, income, or location, has a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment.
Also, Read
| World Water Day: Theme and Importance | Important Days and Dates in April 2023 |