Go short tree, it’s your Earth day!
In case you didn’t already know, today is the 51st annual Earth Day and because green living, sustainability, and climate conservation are really space-cial topics to us here at MOZ, we wanted to create a quick guide to this event. With that said, keep reading to learn what Earth Day is all about, why it’s celebrated, and how you can take part!
What Is Earth Day + Why Do We Celebrate It Every Year?
For those who are unfamiliar with this celebratory day, we already know what you’re thinking…
In 1969, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, along with many others, witnessed a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He was inspired by the student-led anti-war movement at the time and decided to fight for climate conservation and put an end to environmental deterioration. The first Earth Day took place on April 22nd, 1970, where 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest. By the end of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was created, along with several other laws.
Today, Earth Day is recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than 1 billion people in over 190 countries. Simply put, it’s an event that connects the planet, wildlife, and people. The purpose of Earth Day is to give leaders, organizations, and individuals a platform to voice their environmental concerns and fight for climate change. But it’s important to remember that change doesn’t start and end with Earth Day. We need to make our planet a priority and doing so takes continual effort and united action.
How Can I Celebrate Earth Day?
There are many ways you can celebrate Earth Day in the comfort of your own home and neighborhood. And although we can’t commemorate this day in person with others due to the pandemic, it doesn’t mean we can’t remain united.
Our first suggestion for some Earth Day fun is a simple one: get outdoors and go for a walk or run (if the weather permits it). There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in nature while doing an activity that helps ease the mind and exercise the body. To change up this ordinary activity, swap out your energetic playlist for an environmentally informative podcast. For a list of top podcasts, click here.
Did you know that by reducing meat and dairy consumption, you can reduce your carbon footprint? If you’re an avid eater of animal-based products, we know it can be difficult making a change but eating plant-based doesn’t have to take over every mealtime. Try reducing the number of times you consume meat and dairy in a week by swapping in some vegan or vegetarian alternatives. To get some inspiration, check out some of these easy plant-based meals for beginners!
If you’d rather be a couch potato and/or order takeout (we’re totally not judging), enjoy a virtual Earth Day event or watch a documentary on climate change. Here are few ideas to get you going:
- NASA’s #ConnectedByEarth program (April 21-24): includes interactive content, live presentations, kid-friendly activities, downloadable resources, and more. Click here to register and participate!
- Leaders Summit on Climate livestream (April 22-23): features leaders from various countries where they discuss climate-related challenges. Click here for the full list of participants and schedule.
- “Secrets of the Whales” documentary by National Geographic available on Disney+: provides a look at whale culture over a span of three years in 24 locations
- “The Year the Earth Changed” documentary narrated by David Attenborough available on AppleTV+: provides a look at the way nature has responded to a year of lockdown worldwide
And that’s a wrap, earthlings! If you’d like to join the movement, read up on the latest new stories, climate campaigns, and action plans, and/or access project and fund donations, you can visit www.earthday.org. With that said, we hope you enjoyed reading this planet-packed post! Follow us on socials and let us know what you’ll be doing to celebrate this day! And if conversations surrounding green living and beauty are of interest to you, check out our post (if ya missed it) on the importance of sustainable skincare and how we are including more eco-friendly products and practices into our brand here. Bye for now and have a…