EARTH DAY 2020
What is earth day?
Earth day is an annual event celebrated around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970. It is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.
When is Earth Day commemorated?
Earth Day is April 22nd of every year.
April 22, 2020 will mark 50 years of Earth Day since it was first celebrated.
What is the theme of Earth Day 2020?
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is ‘Climate Action’
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and global epidemics. This clearly depicts need for urgent action hence the slogan: Climate Action in line with SDG 13 ((UNEP), 2019)
Why does Earth day matter now?
The first most obvious is the global pandemic; Covid-19 that has stricken the earth, and the other is slowly building as a disaster for our climate.
What can I do for Earth day?
The main essence of earth day is to make an impact within and around your surrounding but seizing all the tools of destruction, we humans possess, to transform the planet not for one day but forever.
With the global pandemic holding the world at stake, it is safe to keep our distance, but that does not mean we neglect the earth. Action can be taken from wherever.
We may be apart, but through the power of digital media, we’re also more connected than ever. It is our obligation as youth to mobilize masses to join the global digital surge!
Governments, NGOs, local authorities and private institutions are key players in the fight against pollution (a pivotal facet of climate change), but we all have a role to play. As a youth, you yield real power and influence as a consumer, a voter, and a member of a community that can unite for change.
Case in point: Without that one plastic bottle being tossed out of the window, the garbage land fill wouldn’t be existent. Everyone has a role to play in the restoration of mother earths sanity.
There is need for us, the youth, to take necessary action in curbing the pollution menace as it has diverse impacts on human and environmental health globally.
Some of the negative extremes include:
Zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 (This type of disease passes from an animal or insect to a human.), extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and tropical cyclones, aggravating water management problems, reducing agricultural production and food security, increasing health risks, damaging critical infrastructure and interrupting the provision of basic services such water and sanitation, education, energy and transport.
Let’s act now and stop waiting for earth to fight us back.
You might know the 3 R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle — but we suggest more: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover.
TOOLS OF ACTION!!
Below is a list of ways you can implement from the safety of your home during this trying COVID-19 times towards a cleaner, greener and safer environment.
Turn off lights when you leave a room. Turn off and unplug electronics you’re not using. This includes turning off your computer at night.
Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs or LEDs. Reduce your carbon footprint by 450 pounds a year.
Take a shorter shower and/or use a water-saving shower head.
Fix leaky faucets and showerheads.
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full to save water and energy.
Conserve water outdoors by only watering your lawn in the early morning or late at night to reduced water lost through evapotranspiration.
Wash your clothes only when necessary, use cold water and line dry in place of machine.
Grow your own organic backyard garden for sustainable agriculture.
Reduce your meat consumption to curb carbon emissions from the livestock industry.
Compost kitchen scraps for use in your garden — turning waste into manure.
Use reusable bottles for water, and reusable mugs for coffee.
Bring reusable bags when you shop.
Set your office printer to print two-sided.
Collect used printer, fax, and copier cartridges to recycle.
Change your paper bills to online billing. You’ll be saving trees and the fuel it takes to deliver your bills by truck.
Read documents online instead of printing them.
Stop using disposable plastics, especially single-use plastics like bottles, bags and straws.
Recycle paper, plastic and glass. This reduces your garbage by 10% and your carbon footprint by 1,200 pounds a year.
Donate your old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out. When you need something, consider buying used items (Ensure they are safe).
Use environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning detergents.
Don’t underestimate your power. When your voice and your actions are united with thousands or millions of others around the world, we create a movement that is inclusive, impactful, and impossible to ignore.
For us, Earth day is Every day!!
Contact: info@theyouthcafe.com.