School of Ecology San José

Earth Day

Official name: International Day of Mother Earth

Objective: Raise awareness about the challenges to preserve the planet.

Day of event: April 22

Celebrated since: 1970

“The Earth is our home and the home of all living beings. Earth itself is alive. We are part of an evolving universe. We are members of an interdependent community of life with a magnificent diversity of life forms and cultures. We are humbled by the beauty of the Earth and we share a reverence for life and the sources of our being”.

Synthesis
Earth Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries on 22 April. Its sponsor, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, established this day to create a common awareness of the problems of pollution, conservation of biodiversity and other environmental concerns to protect the Earth.

History
The first demonstration took place the 28 April 1970, sponsored by Senator Gaylord Nelson and environmental activist, to creating an environmental agency. This call was attended by two thousand universities, ten thousand primary and secondary schools and hundreds of communities. Social pressure had its achievements and the United States government created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a series of laws aimed at protecting the environment.

• In 1972, we held the first international conference on the environment: the Stockholm Conference, whose aim was to raise awareness among world leaders about the magnitude of environmental problems and to institute policies to eradicate them.
• The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year at the vernal equinox (around March 21). On February 26, 1971, the Secretary-General U Thant signed a proclamation to that effect. At the time of equinox sounds Peace Bell at UN headquarters in New York.
• Earth Day is a holiday that belongs to the people and is not regulated by a single entity or body, nor is related to political demands, national, religious, ideological or racial.
• On Earth Day we reflect on the vital importance of fluid that is essential for human life as is water, since only 2% of all the water on the planet is drinkable.
• Earth Day aims to raise awareness of Earth’s natural resources and their management, environmental education, and participation as environmentally conscious and responsible citizens.
• On Earth Day we are all invited to participate in activities that promote the health of our planet, global, regional and local.