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A Brief History On Regional Earth Day
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Earth Day, April 22, is an important day celebrated world wide as a time for people to act, call and draw attention to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The concept which gave birth in the USA in 1970 saw 20 million Americans took to the streets and parks and auditoriums to demonstrate on behalf of a healthy and sustainable environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, raw sewage, toxic dumps, heavily-polluting factories and power plants, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife came together in demonstration of the common values and concerns they shared for the environment.
These monumental demonstrations gained recognition worldwide seeing Earth Day celebrations going global in 1990, with 200 million people from 141 nations participating. Thousands of activities took place, including demonstrations, tree plantings, Earth Fairs, river clean-ups, cultural events and government-sponsored initiatives. This international groundswell of concern for the environment elevated the status of environmental issues on the world stage and led some governments to create agencies for environmental protection.
The Pacific region, mainly the South Pacific territories joined the Earth Day celebrations in 2001 with SOPAC coordinating activities in collaboration with member country National Energy Offices. This event came to be known as Regional Earth Day in the South Pacific.
Make A Difference
Earth Day is now widely celebrated around the world as a collective expression of public will to create a sustainable society. Earth Day activities educate and mobilize people worldwide for environmental protection. It inspires action on personal, community, national and international levels.
Earth Day events and programs rekindle public commitment and involve participation from across social sectors.Countries, citizen groups, local governments, businesses, neighborhoods,schools, college campuses and faith-based groups participate. Individual and collective choices that reflect environmental values and broaden public support result in sweeping changes.
The 2000 millennium saw the focus of ED more towards addressing global warming issue and a push for clean energy. In the Pacific region we followed the global theme through highlighting the need for the increasing use of renewable energy technologies and promoting energy saving as possible ways to contribute to national sustainable development. The uses of natural resources and more important ways to support the ecomony and the people are part of the solution to achieve energy security and sustainable development.
Energy will continue to play a vital role in our social and economic development and therefore we consider it beneficial to continue to commit time and resources towards celebrating Earth Day in particular focussing on educational activities.
Since SOPAC’s involvement in 2001, the Regional Earth day activities carried out have targeted school children at the primary and secondary level in all member countries. The activities were formulated to build awareness in energy efficiency and conservation at home. Activities engage students enabling them to express their views on energy efficiency and understanding of renewable energy sources through art and essay competitions. Educational publications such as flip-charts, posters, booklets and flyers have been developed as part of the Pacific Regional Earth Day activities.
More on the history of Earth Day
Earth Day Network
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Contributors to this page: frankv
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koin
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Page last modified on Thursday 24 of April, 2008 [02:32:18 UTC] by frankv .
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