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Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020.
I think we can agree that the Earth is groaning, crying out and making us pay attention. I don't think it's by chance that the Earth Day movement is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the middle of a global pandemic that has caused the whole earth to stop moving.
History of Earth Day Celebration
The first Earth Day, on April 22nd 1970, was a unified response to an environment that was in crisis. At the time, 10% of the U.S. population took to the streets, college campuses and cities all over the nation to protest environmental ignorance and to enact change and attention toward the needs of our planet.
It has been said that that first Earth Day was the catalyst for the modern environmental movement as we have come to know it today and it is the world's largest civic event annually.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.
Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.
The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States that include:
The Clean Water Act
6 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day At Home With Your Children
Earth Day is such an important opportunity to get our kids involved in acknowledging and making their effort to care for and honor the earth. Recently, my eldest daughter Wisdom, has gotten really fired up about the environment and understands that our choices have major impact on the Earth and her response to us. If you are looking for fun, easy ways to make a impact and celebrate Earth Day with your children, check out some of our favorites below:
1. Plant a tree, plant flowers or add more plants to your home.
Take time to plant a tree in your local neighborhood or in your front or back yard and honor a special person in your life by planting that tree in their honor. Don't have a yard or the resources to plant a tree, you can donate to others who are planting trees, one of our favorite organizations Fondasyon Ginen.
You can pot flowers with your children and let them pick out their favorite one to pot/plant and place them around your house or purchase some plants together and display them around your home. Caring for these living items teaching love and care for nature and responsibility.
2. Go For a Walk.
Take a walk or a hike in your local community and take in the sounds and dig your heels into the earth. Take note of what you see, hear and smell and take turns sharing your gratitude for the Earth or even take the time to journal about it.
3. Research A Favorite Animal and learn about their needs.
Have each member of choose an animal and spend the day researching and learning about that animal. Where is their habitat? What is the climate they need? What do they eat? How long do they live? Are they endangered? Where do they live? Draw pictures and present your findings to one another.
4. Eat in and cook a meal together.
Stay home and cook a meal together. Get your kids involved and reduce the waste of take out containers and plastic.
5. Go meatless for the day.
Make the commitment to go meatless for the day and only eat things that naturally grow from the Earth. Want to take it a step further? Go meatless one day a week. Fun fact: lowering your intake of meat impacts the environment in a major way. According to research, if everyone went vegetarian for just one day, the U.S would save 100 billion gallons of water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide.
6. Pick Up Trash On Your Street.
Walk through your neighborhood and pick up trash. Choose a block and pick of every piece of litter you can find until you fill a bag. It could be a fun scavenger hunt that make an impact.
We love the earth, and my girls and I are so excited to get out and make a difference on Earth Day, even if its from the comfort of our own yard.
Wanna celebrate Earth Day from home? Check out these cool virtual events:
The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations."
-Pope John Paul II
With strength, courage and wisdom,
Tash
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