Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd every year. Many people know about what Earth Day is but don’t understand why it is celebrated, where it originated, and why it’s such an important day for the world.
Earth Day was created as a way to raise awareness about environmental degradation and environmental protection. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 after an oil spill happened in Santa Barbara in 1969. 20 million people came together to show the harm of pollution, toxic waste, and exploitation of natural resources. Earth Day is now celebrated yearly and brings people and communities together.
On Earth Day, communities come together to participate in different activities that protect the Earth. Some of those activities include tree planting and beach cleanups.
Tree planting is an amazing way to celebrate Earth Day because it can help with climate change, increase air quality, and fix ecosystems. These trees also act as carbon sinks that store carbon in their trunks and soil.
Beach cleanups are very helpful for the environment and Earth. They prevent trash and waste from entering the ocean, which is an important part of protecting marine life animals such as turtles. These cleanups can prevent marine life from eating harmful waste and being tangled in plastic, which can cause restriction of movement, suffocation, and drowning. You can find local beach cleanups by searching on Google.
Orange County offers many different options on the Orange County Coastkeeper website. Some of those options include different locations such as San Clemente and Huntington Beach.
Many different Earth Day events will be happening locally. One of those events includes the annual Earth Day at the Bay, which will be happening in Newport Beach on April 18, from 10am to 4pm. You can participate in live music, and a scavenger hunt and buy food from food trucks that are provided.
Another event is the Stand Up to Trash on April 18, 8am till 11am at Dana Point. You can participate in yoga on the grass, a beach cleanup, and a free lunch where you will learn about the Ocean Institute.
Although Earth Day is celebrated once a year, we should be trying to protect our Earth every day. We can do this by recycling plastic, conserving energy, composting, and reducing waste.
