It’s Earth Day! How are you saving the planet today?
The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970, in a much different place and time. As EarthDay.org explains, “At the time, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. ‘Environment’ was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962.” It’s amazing how far we’ve come… and yet how far we have to go.
Check out this great video with the founders of Earth Day and what it means to them!
If you are looking for some ways to celebrate Earth Day, check out some of the activities available across the US today:
Earth Day events with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): Check this interactive map and learn about Earth Day events in your area.
Earth Day in Dallas: Earth Day Dallas (EDD) is an annual, outdoor festival seeking to elevate environmental awareness and influence the way North Texans think, live and work. The family-friendly and free-admission event allows leaders in the corporate, academic and non-profit worlds to unite and show North Texans how green lifestyle choices can lower their cost of living, improve their health, and help save the environment.
Celebrate Earth Day in Yosemite! Celebrate today by sampling food from the sustainable and organic salad bar and discovering products that can help you to protect the environment. You can also make a fun souvenir, find out what park partners are doing to keep the park “green” on a guided tour around Yosemite Valley, and participate in a stewardship project. You will find lots of exciting activities to inspire you to make everyday Earth Day!
EarthDay San Francisco: Join this city-wide event to experience hands on Green Do-It-Yourself projects, E.V. Transportation Zone, Eco Fashion Shows, A Permaculture Village, Holistic Wellness Village, Amazing Eco Art, Sustainable/solar powered Beer and Wine Gardens, over 80 earth friendly vendors, Eco Youth Zone, Two kiddie playground and lots more!!!
In other cool Earth Day news:
- The Earth Day Network is collecting images of people, animals and places affected by climate change in their ‘the Faces of Climate Change.’ An interactive digital display of all the images will be shown at thousands of events around the world on Earth Day and th display is also available online. To contribute to the project, post photos to Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FaceOfClimate for inclusion in the mosaic.
- Net Impact has been working with college students across American to demonstrate how small steps can make a big impact! Net Impact is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that empowers young people to create positive social and environmental change in the workplace and the world. Net Impact empowers students and professional leaders to act locally through their chapter networks and connect globally online and through the flagship conference.
- Grist is collecting images and ideas about YOUR Earthday.
- Watch the Director’s Cut of the new film Mother: Caring for 7 Billion. They are generously offering free streaming of the film for the next few weeks.
- GlassDharma has offered over 1000 free glass straws to those who have taken the Planet Care Pledge.
- Treehugger has announced the winner of the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) World Environment Day blog contest about food waste. To learn more about World Environment Day and the ‘Think.Eat.Save campaign visit UNEP.org/WED And to help spread awareness about food waste, visit UNEP’s Facebook and Twitter pages and use hashtags #WED2013 and #ThinkEatSave.
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