Did you know that... the first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970? The oil spill on the beach in Santa Barbara contributed to its organization. The ecological disaster in California resulted in the death of 10,000 animals and was one of the main reasons for establishing April 22 as World Earth Day around the world.
53 years ago, a great change began in the context of spreading pro-ecological attitudes and environmental protection, which is why Earth Day can also be called Ecology Day.
Shortly after the historic first Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established. Thanks to this, numerous legal acts were created to protect endangered species of animals and birds.
The Earth is so... INTERESTING!
On the occasion of Earth Day, we have prepared some interesting facts for you that will allow you to better understand the inhabited planet.
- 1. More than 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, so a more appropriate name for Earth Day would be Water Day.
- 2.A day on Earth lasts exactly 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds. For our convenience, this time has been rounded to 24 hours.
- 3.Earth has existed for approximately 4.6 billion years.
- 4.There are currently approximately 8 billion people living on Earth.
- 5.The highest point on Earth is Mount Everest, and the lowest is the Mariana Trench.
- 6.More than 800 species that once inhabited the Earth are extinct, and a million others are at risk of extinction.
- 7.According to experts, in 2050 there will be more plastic floating in the seas and oceans than fish and marine life.
Let's devote a moment to the traditions associated with Earth Day . In Poland, we can usually observe widespread garbage collection and planting of trees, which will eventually create new forests. Activists from all over the world also have other, unusual suggestions, such as plogging, i.e. collecting garbage while jogging. Art recycling and upcycling are also becoming popular, often used in schools, turning waste into ecological works of art.
Problems we need to remember, not only on Earth Day
Ecology Day was created to spread awareness about the overall condition of our planet and the problems that have developed over years, decades, centuries, and even millions of years. Currently, the biggest problems our planet is struggling with include:
- global warming
- climate changes
- population growth
- disappearing biodiversity and extinction of endangered species
- air pollution
- consumerism
- progressive urbanization
- water pollution with plastic and microplastics
How to celebrate Earth Day?
As often as possible! One-day changes in our behavior won't help much when it comes to pollution and changes that have been taking place over billions of years. That's why we have chosen unique tasks for Earth Day , but also simple everyday activities that can accompany you every day.
- Plant a tree or a small bush.
- Collect waste paper and aluminum cans and take them to a collection point.
- Pick up the garbage lying on the part of the planet you choose.
- Take part in numerous lectures and conferences exploring the topic of ecology and environmental care.
- Use reusable products, such as cloth bags .
- Segregate rubbish.
- Save on water, gas and electricity consumption.
- Choose a paper bag instead of a plastic one.
- Limit your meat consumption.
- Don't throw away damaged items, try to repair them.
- Use public transport and ride your bike more often.
- Avoid purchasing products in plastic packaging.
As you may have already noticed, there are different ways to celebrate, making each subsequent day Earth Day , Ecology Day or Water Day .
If you want to learn more about how to easily take care of our planet, click here !