BC Regional Council Enviro Committe: April 22 is Earth Day

"International Mother Earth Day is a chance to reaffirm our collective responsibility to promote harmony with nature at a time when our planet is under threat from climate change, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and other man-made problems. When we threaten the planet, we undermine our only home—and our future survival. On this International Day, let us renew our pledges to honor and respect Mother Earth Secretary" - United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

The first Earth Day had participants and celebrants from two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States. More importantly, it "brought 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform." It now is observed in 192 countries, and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network, chaired by the first Earth Day organizer Denis Hayes, according to whom Earth Day is now "the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year." Environmental groups have sought to make Earth Day into a day of action which changes human behavior and provokes policy changes. Celebrating Earth Day to reminds us to conserve natural resources for future use.

We encourage you to celebrate Earth Day by taking part in a festival, parade, or environmental challenge in your community.

Ruby Langan - on behalf of the PSAC BC Regional Council Environment Committee.

English