Happy Earth Day!

The establishment of World Earth Day is credited to John McConnell, a peace activist who also held a strong interest in ecology. He believed that human beings have an obligation to care for the land and share resources in a fair manner. In October 1969, during the UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, McConnell proposed a day to celebrate the life and beauty of the Earth while promoting peace. For him, this celebration also served as a reminder to all people of the imperative to preserve and renew the threatened ecological balances on which all life on the planet depends.

McConnell's proposal garnered significant support, leading to the inaugural "Earth Day" celebration in the city of San Francisco on March 21, 1970. The proclamation of Earth Day formalized a commitment to caring for the planet, accompanied by a set of principles and specific responsibilities. This document was endorsed by 36 world leaders, including UN Secretary-General U Thant, Margaret Mead, John Gardner, and others (Mikhail Gorbachev's signature was added in 2000).

A month later, on April 22, 1970, the definitive "Earth Day" was established by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as a purely ecological event. However, while initially conceived as an American occasion, Denis Hayes, the first coordinator of Earth Day, played a pivotal role in transforming it into an international phenomenon. After Hayes' involvement, the Earth Day Network was established, engaging more than 180 nations in the celebration.

 

In 2000, World Earth Day combined the original spirit of the first Earth Days with the internationalism of the 1990 event. 2000 was the first year the Internet was used as the main tool of organization: this proved invaluable nationally and internationally. Kelly Evans, executive director, enlisted more than 5,000 environmental groups outside the United States, reaching hundreds of millions of people across a record 183 countries. Leonardo DiCaprio was the official guest of the event, and about 400,000 attended the main event despite the cold rain that day.

Thanks to the growing interest in the event, today World Earth Day has become World Earth Week: in the days around April 22, numerous communities celebrate for an entire week with activities focused on the most pressing environmental issues. These events are used to raise public awareness of sustainability issues and by activists to analyze today’s scenarios and propose concrete solutions. In 2017, during Earth Week and in open contrast to Trump’s new "denial policies," the March for Science took place in dozens of cities, followed by the popular mobilization for climate action on April 29, 2017.

As part of the Earth Day Network, "Earth Day Italia" is considered one of the best organizing committees, so much so that in 2015, the Italian organization became the European headquarters of the international network. The 2016 edition was a moment of extraordinary importance for Earth Day Italy, thanks to a succession of significant events, including the exceptional surprise visit of Pope Francis and the live streaming connection with Minister Galletti from New York on the occasion of the historic signing of the first Universal Agreement on Climate Change (COP21).

Moreover, during the Village for the Earth, entire days were dedicated to both sustainable mobility and books, recognizing green mobility and culture as fundamental roles in the transition towards a culture of sustainability.

Sitography:

icvistrorio.edu.it


Today's Blogger

My name is Giulia Cinti, and I am a 15-year-old student living in Subiaco. I am currently enrolled in the third year of the liceo classico. Besides my passion for ancient languages, I also enjoy studying modern European languages. In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in law and specialize in international law. I have a deep appreciation for art and culture, often visiting exhibitions, museums, and other places of cultural interest in my free time. Besides all that, I love dedicating my time to volunteer work at the canteen of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome.