April 22 is the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme is “It’s Our Turn to Lead.” The organization, Earth Day Network,says a huge number of people have joined the environmental movement sincethe first Earth Day in 1970.
Back then, about 20 million people around the world were mobilized. Thisyear, more than one billion people are planning to take action to protect the planet. And the events will be large and small.
 |
|
Earth Day is April 22. |
In Plant City, Florida, a community garden is holding its first Earth Dayfundraiser. The Plant City Commons Community Garden celebration will beheld outdoors. The event will include food, music and workshops ongardening. But visitors can also shop for plants, gardening tools and localfarm goods. Artists and artisans will also display their goods for sale.Proceeds from the event will help support the garden.
Garden President Karen Elizabeth told the Plant City newspaper that thegroup always wanted to organize a family-fun day.
In Washington, D.C., the Earth Day celebration will be out of this world. NASAis hosting a series of events on the National Mall and at Union Station.
NASA is also celebrating an environmental anniversary. Twenty years agothe American space agency and the National Science Foundation establishedthe science and education program known as GLOBE. That stands for GlobalLearning and Observations to Benefit the Environment.
The program connects students, teachers, and professional and citizenscientists. They participate in science data collection by conducting real,hands-on science in their local communities.
Some GLOBE students from West Virginia will celebrate Earth Day at UnionStation in Washington. They are to present results from their research onwater health at a West Virginia creek. In Thailand, participants will hold aworkshop on the use of GLOBE research to control mosquito populations.
Other activities are more physical.
In Beijing, a hiking group will clean up and carry away trash along part of theGreat Wall. An environmental group in Singapore will also do some cleanupalthough its focus is the island’s coasts.
Africa is getting into Earth Day with events including tree-planting projects inCameroon and Uganda. In Lagos, participants will work on an educationalcampaign to teach the city about the need to cut carbon emissions.
In Peru, celebrants can take part in a biking event. Others can attend aceremony to start up a new wind turbine and bring renewable energy sourceto a rural community.
There are hundreds of Earth Day events taking place around the world. Manywill continue beyond a single day.
Are you doing anything for Earth Day? We want to hear about it. You can postyour answer in the comments section.
I’m Caty Weaver.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
mobilize – v. to bring (people) together for action
fundraiser – n. a social event held to collect money for a political party,charity, school, etc.
hike – v. to walk a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise focus –n. a main purpose or interest
wind turbine – n. a tall structure that has large blades attached to an engineand that is used to produce electricity
