Earth Day

>Come April and the world gears up to celebrate Earth Day. Observed since 1970, this unique occassion is actually an opportunity for all of us to think about ways to make a difference to our planet and put them into action. Know all about the Earth Day - the special day reserved by mankind to make the Earth, our green habitat, a better place to live in. Know about this special day and its significance for all of us. If you like reading this article, please click here and forward this page to all your friends and everyone you know thus promoting the cause that Earth Day stands for. Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day

The third planet from the sun, our Earth is the only planet in the universe where life is known to exist. Assessed to have been formed 4.54 billion years ago, the Earth is the sole planet in our solar system where favourable environment and temperature conditions have made possible the existence of millions of species, including humans.

Since mankind came into being, it had to devise newer and better things to assist its preservation in a mostly hostile ambience. Many of man's actions, such as the invention of automoblies, deforestation, setting up of industries, improper disposal of waste products, had been aimed at his own good but affected the earth either in a direct or an indirect manner.

Earth Day strives to set right these wrongdoings of mankind and combat the various problems that nature has already begun to be affected by.

Interestingly, Earth Day is not a single holiday. It is one of two annual observances, both intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The first one, known as the Equinoctial Earth Day, is celebrated on the Vernal Equinox(March 21), the day Spring starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The tradition of Earth Day observance in spring was founded in 1969 by peace activist John McConnell. A second Earth Day is celebrated during autumn in the southern hemisphere. This was established by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as the direct result of an environmental conference that he attended in 1970. This Earth Day in April, better known as World Earth Day, is celebrated in many countries each year on April 22.

The Earth Day observances typically include planting of trees, picking up roadside trash, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Not a public holiday, this unique occassion sees no cease in civil activities. The event is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform activities that contribute to the welfare of the earth. In most countries, many government and non-government organizations come together to organise various events for the propagation of the ideals that Earth Day stands for. Various seminars are held to raise awareness among common people about current environmental conditions and inform them of ways by which the damages to the ecology can be countered. Recycling and conservation is encouraged and promoted to the audience, often with giant-screen video demonstrations. Citizens are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction. Special programs dealing with environmental issues are aired by various television channels specially for the occassion.

Presently, the Earth Day is observed in more than 140 countries around the world.