Since 1970, April 22 has been considered Earth Day. This day is an international event that honours and celebrates our amazing planet. On this day we are reminded of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. It is also an invitation to come together and take action to create a healthier planet and build a brighter future. The theme for 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. This theme brings attention to the serious issue of plastic pollution and how it harms nature. Find out more at www.earthday.org

 

Earth Day has grown into a seven-day celebration that is now known as Earth Week. Personally, I always celebrate Earth Day in some meaningful fashion, and am sincerely sorry to not be physically present at Shawnigan on this hugely important day and week.

 

Earth Day was the brainchild of US Senator Gaylord Nelson and was inspired by the protests of the 1960s. It began as a “national teach-in on the environment” and was held on April 22, 1970 to maximize the largest number of students on university campuses. He hoped that by raising the awareness of pollution, Earth Day would bring environmental causes into the national spotlight. By the early 1960s, Americans were becoming aware of the effects of pollution on the environment, and Rachel Carson’s 1962 best-seller Silent Spring raised the spectre of the dangerous effects of pesticides. Carson was credited with inspiring the modern environmental movement that began in earnest 10 years later. Unfortunately, she was not still with us to see that her environmental text had in fact changed the world.

 

The mission of Earth Day is to help people and organizations reduce their environmental impact. Over the years, this day has become the largest participatory environmental movement on the planet. As individuals, we have real power to use our voice and actions that together can create a movement that is inclusive, impactful and impossible to ignore. In 2022, Earth Day events were held in 192 countries, and over 5.4 million people tuned in for Earth Day Live: Restore Our Earth. Cleanups took place in 104 countries, cleaning up millions of pounds of trash.

 

The power of collective action is simply amazing as it calls on individuals, businesses, governments and the private sector to join hands and ensure we safeguard our planet. Now, as we are seeing undeniable proof that climate change is indeed real, we must step up our efforts. Climate change is everybody’s business and it is imperative to work harder to protect biodiversity, preserve our ecosystems and build a sustainable and thriving future.

 

For over 20 years I have been actively helping to share knowledge and educate people about climate change. Climate change is real and it is affecting all of us in a multitude of ways. We might not actively think about climate change affecting us directly as we are privileged enough to not see huge direct effects that impact us personally. However, climate change is affecting each and every one of us. For example, one might not think of climate change affecting our health directly, but climate change is affecting our vulnerability to disease. Climate change is making our seasons longer, giving viruses more time to mutate, and our immune systems are becoming less robust. It is also a proven fact that those living in more polluted areas are more affected by viral infections than those who live in less polluted areas.

 

Thus, our actions have consequences, and our choices matter in every aspect of our lives. If what is important is our health, our loved ones, our communities and a future world, choices we make can threaten what is important to each and every one of us. Start with yourself and your closest friends and family, taking small actions that help the world around us become healthier. Encourage schools, clubs, communities and organizations to promote activities that help improve the health of our environment close to home and far away. Build the awareness of what each one of us can do!

Happy Earth Week, and may the sentiments of this week continue to be in the forefront every day of our future!