In the 21st century, the problem of the environment comes to the fore. The population of the planet begins to experience a shortage of clean water, food, natural disasters are increasingly occurring. Therefore, World Earth Day was established. This international holiday is an opportunity to remind once again what can be done to solve environmental problems. It is celebrated on all continents.
When will Earth Day be celebrated in 2024
The idea of establishing an international holiday is long overdue. Protests against environmental pollution broke out all over the planet. In the twentieth century, active student movements took place in the 3rd week of April.
Since the future of the world was of particular concern to the young, the new celebration was given the date of April 22 - the time when nature awakens. In 2024, World Earth Day will also be celebrated on April 22, Monday.
History and purpose of organizing the holiday
People have been thinking about protecting the environment for a long time. Back in the III century. BC e. Ashok, one of the Indian rulers, taught his subjects to take care of the fauna. In the 19th century scientists urged to preserve relic objects, and in the 20th century - to think about the expediency of natural resources. The devastating impact of environmental change on the genetic future of humanity has already been proven.
After the Second World War, on March 21, during the spring equinox, conferences of environmentalists began to be held in European countries. And in 2009, at the 63rd session of Gen. UN Assembly representatives of Bolivia proposed the idea - to make the holiday international.More than 50 states joined them and the institution was confirmed at the interstate level, but they chose a different date - April 22, and transformed the name. Since 2009, the holiday has been called International Mother Earth Day.
Addition - the word "mother" - was also approved at the assembly. This was done to avoid confusion, as the tradition of continuing environmental activities on March 21st has been preserved.
Earth Day Symbols
The official emblem of the holiday is a capital THETA, Θ, the letter of the Greek alphabet. Its contour is similar to our planet. The symbolism was developed in the 1970s, when Earth Day was still celebrated at the vernal equinox.
But there is another informal symbol of the holiday - the blue flag with the first image of the Earth from space. Colored the photo artificially. It was taken on black and white film in 1946 by a satellite launched from a US test site.
World Mother Earth Day Traditions
For the first time, the holiday was celebrated in Pyatigorsk, on the March equinox in 1990. They organized a city subbotnik, before which they held a rally where they talked about environmental problems. In the future, the idea spread to other cities of the country. At meetings, they discuss issues of restoring the environment in a given area or region, remove garbage, clean the banks and riverbeds, and ennoble the territory of yards.
A relatively young holiday has already had international traditions:
- In 1997, for the first time, they organized a public action - the March of the Parks. Since that day, it has become an annual event. The founders are trying to show how important it is to preserve nature at least in the territories of protected natural zones, refusing to cut territories.
- A day without a car. All people who understand how much the earth's atmosphere suffers from automobile exhaust should give up the steering wheel of vehicles that use fuel to move for a whole day.It is not necessary to walk - you can use a bicycle, or an electric scooter.
- Listen to the sound of the Peace Bell in the evening on the International Mother Earth Day. Its sound is considered a reminder of the fragility of the planet. The alarm sounded for the first time at the UN Assembly in 1954.
Last stock was born in Japan. The musical instrument was cast from coins donated by the children of the Land of the Rising Sun, whose parents settled all over the world.
B also has its own bell. It was installed in St. Petersburg in 1988 in the park named after. Academician Sakharova.
Another action is dedicated to environmental issues. It is called the "Big Snap" Until 2009, it was held on the last Saturday of December, but then they began to repeat it during the celebration of Earth Day. Defenders of nature call on all people who understand how important it is to take care of natural resources to turn off all electricity for 1 hour.
It's not only the light bulbs in the houses that go out.Shop signs, illuminated signs and buildings, including historical ones, are turned off. True, complete blackout does not occur. The illumination of the Egyptian pyramids, Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, as well as many famous historical buildings, is only dimmed. Lighthouses and lights on skyscrapers and towers also do not extinguish.
Earth Day reminds us how important it is to take care of our Planet, to carefully use the gifts it provides us with. After all, she is so fragile, and it is our common task to save her.
