Walk outside, take a deep breath of fresh air, look around at the trees, hear the birds twitter. Will you be able to do this in twenty years? Fifty? One-Hundred? Inspired by the passion of the anti-war protests and growing public awareness of air and water pollution in the late 1960s, Senator Gaylord Nelson helped create a national event to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth's natural resources for future generations – Earth Day.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and initially was intended to be a teach-in focused on the importance of environmental conservation. However, it grew well beyond this and over 20 million people participated. The event spurred Congress to pass the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973). In the following years organizers have made Earth Day a global event.
This year’s annual celebration will focus on investing in our planet. How can you do this? What every person does, and how we do it has a ripple effect on our communities, our countries, and our planet. Unless we hold ourselves accountable for our actions, businesses won’t either. Turn off your lights when you are not in the room. Avoid single use consumer goods like plastic water bottles and grocery bags. Walk or bike instead of driving. The Library of Things has bike racks, helmets, pumps, and locks available to check out in order to go on a bike ride safely.
We can all do more to be more conscious about what we buy, and where we buy it from. Buying less will save you money, reduce waste and improve your environmental footprint. Choose local and sustainably sourced food, like that from the Dubuque farmers’ market. Use your purchasing power to make sure your money is going toward positive change. By supporting eco-friendly products which are less damaging to the environment, you are encouraging companies to source and produce their products in a sustainable way. Make your voice heard. Vote for change in corporations and within the government to pass sustainability policies and laws. Spread the message: #Invest in Our Planet.
You can learn more about the 2022 Earth Day celebration and ways to help our planet at https://www.earthday.org/. Want to share Earth Day with the young readers in your life? See our book display on the Library’s first floor.
