There’s No Planet B: What is Earth Day & How You Can Help?
Every year on the 22nd of April, people celebrate Earth Day all around the world, the first one being celebrated in 1970 in the USA. It is a reminder to all the 7.6 billion people on Earth that we only have one planet, and it is fragile. Human activities that lead to carbon emissions, deforestation, and environmental pollution have adverse effects that ripple across every ecosystem on the planet.
Earth Day is now observed by 192 countries and is an important event to remind us of our responsibility towards our home planet. Every little contribution, regardless of how small it might seem at the individual level, contributes to the betterment of the environment. On this Earth Day, here is how you can give back:
1. Engage students to take action
To make a real impact on people, it is essential to show things first-hand rather than sharing a social media post. Gather the students in your locality and conduct simple pollution experiments that show the potential for pollution from objects we take for granted every day. You can look online for a number of simple experiments that show the presence of microplastics, heavy metals, and chemical agents that pollute the environment in everyday objects.
2. Plant a tree
Plant a tree wherever it is practical. Coordinate with the local authorities for their permission to plant trees in empty areas of your neighborhood and get it done. You can also grow local varieties of shrubs that help the native flora and fauna. If you have a backyard or a space on your roof, start a garden to teach children how to grow and care for plants.
3. Turn off the lights
One of the most powerful ways to send a message on Earth day is to turn off the lights for an hour. It is quite a spectacle to see whole blocks of the city going dark between 8 pm to 9 pm. By turning off the lights, you show your support for the environmental movement and make an impact on the children and neighbors. Turning off lights also helps reduce power consumption during that brief window.
4. Host a waste collection drive in your neighborhood
To get more people involved, host a waste collection drive in your neighborhood. Get children and their parents involved in an activity to collect litter that has accumulated in the neighborhood. Teach people the importance of segregation so the organic waste can go into composting, and the metals and plastics can be sent to recycling. A day’s worth of waste collection is sure to make people realize their contribution to pollution.
5. Pledge to raise awareness and reduce waste
Sign an environmental action petition online for a cause that you support. Start a conversation on social media by posting about your community’s activity on Earth Day. Pledge to reduce waste by cutting down the usage of single-use plastics and package materials. Cut down on wasted water and energy in the form of electricity and unnecessary vehicle use.
