Earth Day 2022: 7 Things You Can Do To Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental advocacy and protection.
HISTORY OF EARTH DAY
The first Earth Day was initiated in 1970 during a modern environmental movement.
Prior to the first Earth Day, Americans were exerting a mass amount of leaded gas due to inefficient automobiles. There were no consequences from the law or media because air pollution was accepted as a byproduct of economic growth. Many Americans were unaware of environmental concerns and damages of various types of pollution and how a polluted Earth impacts human health.
That said, things changed for the better with the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book raised public awareness and concern for living organisms and the environment and the direct impact of pollution of public health. Earth Day would then emerge from the growing public awareness on pollution and provide a voice for environmental consciousness and environmental concerns.
WHAT WOULD WE DO ON EARTH DAY?
The best way to celebrate Earth Day is by engaging in actions that advocate for the environment and help our beautiful planet. Here are 15 things you can do on Earth Day.
ADVOCATE ENVIRONMENTALISM
Share your passion about environmentalism with your peers and families. Educate others about the importance of recycling, using less plastic , and reducing our carbon footprint. You can also support social enterprises such as Sea Smart, a social impact organization that empowers youth, businesses, teachers, and communities to take action to save our oceans. You can volunteer at our shoreline pickup, bring your children to our after school programs in Vancouver, or donate. Your support will help us protect the environment and save our oceans.
USE REUSABLE BAGS
Single-use plastic bags are detrimental to our environment and oceans. If single-use plastic bags aren’t recycled and end up in the ocean or wilderness, they will be ingested by animals . Human life is also harmed as a result of this consumption because we live in a tightly knitted ecosystem and food chain. Humans ultimately ingest that plastic when we consume microplastics that are present in our seafood.
By using reusable bags, we can limit our use of single-use plastics.
USE A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE OR MUG
Similar to single-use plastic bags, plastic bottles are also a major contributor of plastic waste in the world. You can help reduce plastic waste by bringing a refillable water bottle or mug with you when you go to the gym or coffee shop.
SHOP FOR ECO-FRIENDLY CLOTHES
We can preserve our ocean by buying eco-friendly clothes made of low-impact dyes, upcycled natural materials, and organic cotton. These types of clothes are eco-friendly because they have minimal impact on our environment during the production process. For example, low impact dyes don’t contain toxic chemicals or mordants. This means that when they are washed , the clothing dye that goes into the water system won’t contaminate our waterways and harm marine life.
RIDE YOUR BICYCLE FOR TRANSPORTATION
Riding a bicycle is a healthy transportation option that minimizes our carbon footprint. And it can be fun!
TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR CARPOOL
If riding your bicycle to run errands or to the office isn’t a realistic transportation method, take public transportation to reduce carbon emissions. Carpooling with coworkers or friends is also a simple and great way to reduce our carbon footprint.
BUY LOCAL PRODUCE
Buying local fruits and vegetables is beneficial for our environment. By buying local produce, we are purchasing fruits and vegetables that aren’t shipped from far away. Doing this helps reduce fossil fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and overall pollution.
Earth Day is one of the most important days of the year because it celebrates environmentalism. By acknowledging the importance of Earth Day and taking actions to minimize our carbon footprints, we’re taking strides for a better Earth. After all, we only have one!
If you are interested in joining our waves of change and saving our oceans, you can volunteer at our programs or donate to our social cause. You can bring your children to our after school programs in Vancouver where kids learn about different marine animals, cool ocean science, the threats impacting these animals and simple actions we can take to help.
