Tomorrow, April 22, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970 to demonstrate support for environmental protection and the environmental movement. We may all be apart this Earth Day, but we're also more connected than ever before thanks to digital media, so while we may have to keep our distance with the current coronavirus pandemic, we can still come together for this important day.
Tune into Earth Day online as it goes digital this year for the first time in its history for messages, performances, and calls to actions from activists and entertainment and political celebrities like Al Gore, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Pope Francis, and Zac Efron. Be sure to visit the Earth Day 2020 event page where you can click on an event on the world map or search by filtering by your interests.
If you're looking for some environmental information and educational resources in the meantime, be sure to check out the classroom resources from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Earth Day Network is also collaborating with USAFacts, the nonpartisan civic initiative, to spread the USAFacts' newly published State of the Earth special report which provides readers a data-driven portrait of America's energy, climate, and environment.
One of the hobbies that I've gotten back into since sheltering from home is reading, and what better to do on an Earth Day spent at home than to pick up a book that inspires us to make a difference?
Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet by Michael Bloomberg, Carl Pope
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
Our House is on Fire by Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Malena Ernman, Beata Ernman
Rising by Elizabeth Rush
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The Ends of the World by Peter Brannen
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. It is so easy to take action on climate change by making small changes to your daily routine, and these changes like the below can quickly add up:
Recycle
Use a reusable water bottle
Stop using plastic straws. Explore alternative options that compostable or reusable such as glass, stainless steel, or even pasta
Buy bulk produce and plastic-free household items
Start an organic vegetable garden.
Managing our waste and ending plastic pollution is so, so important because we only have one Earth, and we should take care of our planet. We can all still take meaningful actions and make a difference while sheltering from home this Earth Day and every day.
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