By Ariana Siu and Peggy Yip
What is Earth Day and How Did it Come to be?
Did you know that a plastic bottle could take over 450 years to decompose? Facts like these are precisely why Earth day was created; to force humankind into understanding the impact our actions have on our planet. It’s not just a theory, it’s the truth– our Earth is sick. Its condition is spiraling out of control, rapidly tumbling down the littered ridge.
Established since 1970, Earth day holds major significance within the modern environmental movement. It aims to spread awareness about pollution and mass deforestation worldwide. On the 22nd of April, it is an annual occurrence for many to come together and celebrate this day that is solely dedicated to saving our planet. Though not an official holiday, it is well-known, and celebrated by over a billion people all around the world.
Ways to Contribute
The 3 “r”s: Do your best to reduce, reuse and recycle. This rule keeps materials within the system and prevents them from being released into the landfill where it could take millions of years just for them to decompose, all while releasing harmful gases into the Earth’s atmosphere. Reusable products — such as containers and metal bottles — are highly recommended. You should always refrain from using single-use items like juice boxes or plastic bags!
Limit your water usage: Since only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh and 2.6% of it is sealed away in ice caps and glaciers (leaving only 0.4%). One could only imagine how little of it we have. Water, a vital nutrient for one’s body, cannot be excluded from our lives. However, the average Canadian uses 329L of water on a daily basis, which is a lot! In order to save the small amount of fresh water we have left on our planet, there is one effective method that all of us can use: cutting back on our water usage.
Participate in tree planting activities: Trees are natural recyclers. Through photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as a by-product. Deforestation is a major roadblock in curing our toxic environment. The trees that so many people are taking for granted are getting cut down fast, for product and for land. Statistics show that a tremendous number of 3 trillion and 15.3 billion trees are getting felled each year. To fix this issue, besides spreading the word, various organizations are hosting tree planting events! Anyone is welcome to participate.
Works Cited
Buscher, Noah. “green plant photo – Free Plant Image on Unsplash.” Unsplash, 18 November 2018, https://unsplash.com/photos/x8ZStukS2PM. Accessed 13 April 2022.
Butler, Rhett A., and Rhett Butler. “How many trees are cut down every year?” Mongabay, 2 September 2015, https://news.mongabay.com/2015/09/how-many-trees-are-cut-down-every-year/. Accessed 13 April 2022.
Castelo, Jeremiah. “What is the Percentage of Drinkable Water on Earth?” World Water Reserve, 13 December 2021, https://worldwaterreserve.com/percentage-of-drinkable-water-on-earth/. Accessed 13 April 2022.
Davidson, Rose. “History of Earth Day.” National Geographic Kids, https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/earth-day. Accessed 13 April 2022.
McGill. “How much are we using? | Water is Life!” McGill University, https://www.mcgill.ca/waterislife/waterathome/how-much-are-we-using. Accessed 13 April 2022.
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