Earth Day

On a planet that sustains 8.3 billion people, we have one day that brings light and appreciation to what Earth provides for us. This day is a celebration that honors the achievements of the Environmental movement and raises awareness of what we need to continue doing to protect the most valuable thing to us. On April 22nd, 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson led 20 million Americans in protests and demanded action against environmental degradation. From the early 1900s to the late 1960s, activists like Rachel Carlson highlighted the dangers of pesticides, pollutants, smokestack emissions, and many other harmful effects. Figures like John Muir aimed to protect wilderness, national parks, and wildlife from industrialization.

Many people have no idea what issues are currently occurring due to our lack of knowledge and involvement. Climate change and air pollution are often seen as the main health concerns of Earth, but what people don't see is our biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, ocean acidification, water scarcity, and agricultural degradation. While people can advocate and spread awareness about these problems, one person alone cannot fix these issues. Earth Day educates the public and focuses on what people can do in their daily routines to reverse the effects. 

Being mindful about water use, picking up trash, or reading about the ways we can be better are all small things we can do to improve the planet that provides everything we need. It often goes unnoticed, and sometimes we can be unappreciative of what we have. Earth Day is the day to recognize not only current concerns, but also the times when we have faced these concerns and created solutions to improve our future. Now's the time to participate in what every person should. Celebrate Earth Day and shed light on our accomplishments and what we need to continue doing.