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Have any ideas for what you are going to this Earth Day? Well, April 22 is right around the corner, so you don't have much time. For those of you how are not familiar with Earth Day, Earth Day is a day when people go out of their way to appreciate the earth and environment. As all of you know, our earth is experiencing severe environmental changes so on Earth Day, millions of people try to do good deeds for the environment.
For the history of Earth Day, check out Whitney Campbell's blog Green Screen.
Billion Acts of Green
This year, the theme for Earth Day is called A Billion Acts of Green. The Earth Day Network's goal to get 1 billion people to make a pledge for helping out on Earth Day. I made my pledges, which were planting more flowers and bushes in my garden, growing my own tomatoes, basil, and other vegetables, setting up a more complex recycling garbage disposal for my house, carpooling to get to school, and writing this blog to inform you about Earth Day and how you can help.
Want to get involved but don't know how? Well, there are hundreds of ways you can contribute.
One annual event that people participate in on Earth Day is Picnic for the Planet. Picnic for the Planet is a fun, worldwide event where people have a picnic outside and invite friends and family. There are hundreds of picnics to choose from, and if you go on http://www.meetup.com/natureconservancy/, you can probably find a picnic that is not far from your neighborhood.
If you don't have time to attend a picnic but still want a delicious snack, try buying foods that are locally grown or prepared. If the foods are local, that is cutting down on the amount of fossil fuel being burnt to deliver it to your neighborhood. Farmer's markets are always a good stop if you want a nice piece of fruit, although you can even buy meat, milk, flowers, eggs, and many other products. What is even better than this is planting your own garden. Not only will your taste buds detect the difference, but also the environment.
There are also many small, but effective ways you can participate this year. You could walk or ride your bike to work or school, pick up trash in your neighborhood or on the side of a highway, gain permission to plant trees and flowers in your neighborhood park, or recycle more often.
Whether you plant a tree or go around the neighborhood picking up litter, you are making a difference in the world and making it a healthier place to live on. So get involved and show the world that you care, and trust me, in the end you will be grateful that you did so! Hopefully you include your pledges for Earth Day in your everyday life, because in my life, everyday is Earth Day!
Image Credit: Cornelia Kopp (via flickr)
Sources:
"Earth Day and EPA History" United States Environmental Protection Agency
"Earth Day: The History of A Movement" Earth Day Network
"Meet Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day" The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (University of Wisconsin-Madison) April 21, 2010
"Picnic for the Planet" The Nature Conservancy
