EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS

Apr 22, 2018 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Yesterday, Guyana joined more than 160 countries around the world to celebrate Earth Day. The aim of Earth Day is to promote awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s ecosystem. This year’s celebration focuses on the very real role that science plays in each of our lives.
The recognition of Earth Day was reinforced at the Paris Conference on December 2015. The goal was to reduce global warming and protect the environment from further destruction. It was the world’s greatest diplomatic and political success as the leaders of the developed countries have agreed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and have pledged US$100 billion to help the developing countries by 2020.
The Paris Accord makes Earth Day one of the most important and the most recognizable face of the environmental movement. Activities associated with this year’s Earth Day include marches in several cities around the world, raising awareness about recycling, promoting green projects, and reducing the amount of energy consumed by nations.
The goal of the organizers of Earth Day is to encourage billions of people around the world to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to plant seven billion trees—one for each earthling. This year’s theme is “Marching for Science and Climate change.” Earth Day 2017 is 47 years old; it began in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Earth Day 1970 gave voice to the emerging consciousness which putting environmental concerns on the front page.
It is a day in which people focus on the environment and encourage others to be environmentally friendly. It is also a day of action that has changed human behaviour and has provoked policy changes.
Earth Day has led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.
Earth Day has achieved a rare political and social alignment around the world with support from governments, political parties, labour unions, tycoons, University, college and high school students and many others who have not only opposed the destruction of the environment but also believe that the world should move towards greener and more sustainable economies.
The Internet is the principal and invaluable organizing tool that spreads the message of the esteemed status of Earth Day as the largest secular observance in the world. Guyanese from all across the country have joined people around the world to promote a clean and greener environment. They believe that the environment should be protected for future generations.
It is estimated that more than three trillion gallons of untreated sewage and industrial waste are dumped into the seas, lakes and other natural bodies of water each year thus making them too polluted for swimming, fishing and marine life. Not to mention that air pollution causes more than two million people to die prematurely each year.
Earth Day has sent the world leaders a clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on global warming, clean energy, an end to pollution, oil spills and unsafe nuclear power plants, control of raw sewage, toxic dumps and pesticides, an end to the destruction of the forests and the extinction of wildlife.
Earth Day transcends all national borders, preserves all geographical integrities, crosses oceans, mountains and races and religion. It brings people of all lineages from all over the world into one common accord.

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