The
environmental movement is one of the most successful social
change movements. Popularizing Earth Day celebrations can be
credited with bringing the movement to the mainstream. Through
grassroots efforts, festivals, fairs, assemblies and concerts
have helped popularize concern for our environment in the public's
mind. Since so many people participate in Earth Day activities,
Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to get people to tap-into
the better world movement, so that they can find the
inspiration and encouragement to continue activities for a more
peaceful, just and sustainable world all year long.
When
is Earth Day? Actually, there are 3 Earth Days - 3 dates that
are dedicated to helping raise awareness about the health and
well being of the land, skies and water of our planet Earth.
The original Earth Day is celebrated on the Spring Equinox
each year (In 2012 it falls on March 20). April 22 is
the date that most people know as Earth Day. Both of these Earth
Days were first celebrated in 1970. In 1972, the United Nations
designated June 5 as World Environment Day to commemorate
the opening of the Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm
that year, which ultimately led to the creation of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the main UN body devoted
to protecting our environment.
There
are many different ecological issues to raise awareness about,
on Earth Day and all year long - global climate change, protecting
wildlife habitat, preventing pollution and cleaning up polluted
air, water and land, conserving our natural resources, and many
other issues … What's your ecological passion?
