Earth Day -- April 22: Help Save Our Planet
The first Earth Day -- April 22, 1970 -- is considered by many to be the start of the modern environmental movement. Millions of Americans turned out that day to protest environmental degradation and to demonstrate on behalf of a cleaner, healthier environment. By the end of the year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been established and Congress had passed the Clean Air Act.
Earth Day is now observed each year on April 22 by more than one billion people in over 175 countries. On Earth Day's 40th anniversary in 2010, the Earth Day Network launched a campaign to register A Billion Acts of Green in advance of the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development -- Rio+20 -- in June 2012. That goal was reached two months early, on April 22, Earth Day 2012. The network is carrying that momentum forward, working to reach 3 Billion Acts of Green, and initiating a series of focused campaigns to inspire targeted action. Earth Day 2018 is focusing in particular on Ending Plastic Pollution.
Make plans now for your League to celebrate Earth Day. Perhaps your League has taken part in Earth Day events in the past and is already in touch with community partners about plans for this year. If not, start by reaching out to other like-minded organizations to see what ideas they may have. Student groups have traditionally been eager participants in Earth Day celebrations.
A Few Ideas for Earth Day
- Develop a list of 10 green actions that people can take to reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably. Encourage members of your League and your community to honor Earth Day by pledging to do at least one thing on the list. Visit the Earth Day Network's Billion Acts of Green webpage for ideas of things people can do.
- Sponsor a carbon-free Earth Day walk, run, or bike outing.
- Organize a park clean up . . . or a tree planting . . . or a community garden.
- Partner with your local school district on an Earth Day poster contest . . . or essay contest.
- Organize a screening of an environmental documentary, such as Bag It . . . or The 11th Hour . . . or Earth 2100.
Resources
- From the League -- LWVUS Climate Action Toolkit
- From the Earth Day Network -- Earth Day Action Toolkit
Last updated: 3/30/2018