The History and Global Impact of World Earth Day | Why Celebrate It?
“There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring.
Such is the working of our Earth, a soothing cycle of events, their predictability a source of comfort. Yet, it is this delicate balance, this reassuring rhythm we must maintain and protect for future generations.
On Monday, the 22nd of April 2024, we celebrated World Earth Day again just like we do every year. We renewed our promises to protect our planet, to preserve our environment, and to wholeheartedly embrace the “reduce, reuse and recycle” mantra! We planned to start anew, charged from the celebration, hoping to do more and waste less.
But what makes World Earth Day celebrations so significant? Does the annual recognition lead to a lasting global impact?
Let us take a look at some important historical facts and the scale of the impact of this occasion.
History of World Earth Day
It was early in the 1960s that the world started waking up to the climate crisis that was engulfing the planet. Cities in the US were enveloped in clouds of smoke, a by-product of large-scale industrialisation and the use of poorly maintained cars. Industrial waste was conveniently dumped into rivers, lakes or streams with absolute disregard for the consequences. People in general were oblivious to the hazards to their health and well-being.
Awareness among the general populace was triggered by Rachel Carlson’s landmark book “Silent Spring” published in 1962. This non-fiction yet passionate book sounded the alarm and created awareness amongst the masses about the health concerns caused by pollution.
In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided to convert this awareness into an organised movement that could help spread consciousness about pollution and its detrimental effects. The anti-Vietnam War sentiment was high and protestors were already charged. Nelson roped in Denis Hayes, a young activist, to rally students across various university campuses throughout the country to ignite a revolution.
Thus, April 22, 1970, was marked as World Earth Day for the first time, a day dedicated to highlighting the urgency of the crisis. A decade later, monumental progress had been made. The US Senate had already passed countless legislations to help tackle environmental concerns.
In 1990, World Earth Day went global for the first time. 141 countries participated in marking the event and leaders worldwide got involved in raising awareness.
Since then there has been no turning back. Large-scale demonstrations, inspiring media events and impactful conferences are held worldwide to highlight the urgency of the crisis. Myriad other issues kept adding fuel to the movement and the platform has grown to spread across more than 190 countries attracting billions of people globally.
The Scale of the Celebration
The reach of World Earth Day continues to spread far and wide, bringing people, organisations and governments together for the cause. It is now considered the largest secular movement in the world covering a wide range of events and initiatives.
Let us take a look at some key aspects of the celebration:
A Universal Cause:
World Earth Day is currently celebrated in 193 countries, where people from different cultures, backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities come together for this common cause. This emphasises the global nature of the event and the willingness on everyone’s part to share the responsibility for the sake of the planet.
Large-Scale Media Coverage:
Extensive media coverage is provided to the various events held in celebration of World Earth Day. Local events such as marathons, tree-planting drives, recycling initiatives and workshops are organised worldwide. On an international level, many news reports, documentaries and different campaigns on social media bring to light the various efforts that are being undertaken to address the issue.
Involvement at the Corporate Level:
Businesses around the world avail this opportunity to prove their commitment to sustainability. Eco-friendly initiatives are taken and responsible practices are initiated. Consumers are asked to join hands in the drive towards sustainability and eco-consciousness.
Educational Institutes’ Initiatives:
Schools, colleges and universities worldwide hold extensive campaigns and celebrations to create awareness amongst the young population as they are to be the flag bearers of this movement in the future. Students are engaged in activities that highlight the climate crisis to ensure their involvement too.
Government Support:
Governments worldwide recognise World Earth Day as a chance to promote their environmental policies and initiatives. This goes a long way in tackling the challenges faced globally.
Role of the Social Media:
Lately, social media platforms have contributed significantly by providing a world stage to the Earth Day celebrations. Events and campaigns held virtually cater to a large audience. This is a major help since social media holds sway over millions.
On the whole, the scale of the celebration only helps in driving home the growing recognition of climate change, pollution, and other environmental challenges. World Earth Day helps trigger change and inspires people worldwide to take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future.
Contribution By CELYSTM:
The world’s first fully compostable polyester CELYS™ aligns perfectly with the Earth Day motto by abiding by the principles of sustainability and responsible fashion. Its compostable fibre technology reduces the environmental impact of fashion production and textile waste. It is safe to say that CELYS™ actively supports the Earth Day call and is helping bring down the fashion industry's carbon footprint.
As the world on the whole continues to show environmental responsibility, CELYS™ is also playing its part by being an example of how fashion can be both stylish and earth-friendly.
Final Thoughts
World Earth Day serves as a wake-up call, a warning to us, that we cannot afford to be complacent. It is a reminder that all living things are after all intrinsically connected and that it is absolutely imperative we do our bit to protect our planet.
We need to continue acting meaningfully. We need to continue raising awareness. There is definitely no room here for negligence. We sincerely hope we can succeed in these efforts. We hope we can be the ones who finally turn this destructive tide around and save our home. We hope to be the ones who can clear the way for a healthier, brighter and cleaner world for our future generations.
