How will You Celebrate Mother Earth?

Earth Day is the largest, most widely celebrated international environmental event. Earth Day helps celebrate Earth’s unique place in the universe. It is the only planet in our solar system teeming with incredible biodiversity. Learning about and protecting this biodiversity is what Earth Day is all about. People all over the world celebrate our efforts to protect plants and animals and to clean up the world we live in.

Why Celebrate Earth Day?

Earth Day reminds us we all share the same planet. Sharing Earth means taking responsibility for what we use and how we use it. It is a day to think of the environmental challenges we face and how to solve them. Protecting Earth is every person’s and every country’s responsibility.

Parties All Around the Globe

People traditionally celebrate Earth Day with the ringing of bells, often bells of peace. The tradition of bell ringing is practiced all over the world on Earth Day. Representatives from Palestine, Austria, and Russia have all rung a Peace Bell in a ceremony celebrating the protection of the environment and of Earth’s many species.

Children in India put on this “Save the Earth” skit to celebrate the planet and to raise environmental awareness.

A Rally in India

In India, one Earth Day was celebrated by approximately 1,200 kids. They held a rally during which they carried signs with slogans and messages about preserving all of nature. The children also performed skits about the environment. The India Habitat Center held painting and quiz competitions. At other events, kids presented a “Children’s Clean Air Manifesto” to the president’s wife. Then they held a Children’s Bicycle Rally to promote nonpolluting forms of transportation.

In Kenya, Earth Day is celebrated along with the country’s National Tree Planting Day. Citizens and students plant trees in order to preserve forests and keep the environment clean.

More Trees for Kenya

In Kenya, distinguished guests and schoolchildren planted 1,000 trees in Nairobi’s endangered Karura forest. The plantings were in honor of Earth Day and Kenya’s National Tree Planting Day on April 21.

Field trips and outdoor projects are a great way to learn more about Earth, your environment, and all the interesting things that live there.

Theme Parties in China

China celebrates Earth Day each year with a theme. One year the theme was Protection of Geographic Relics and Scientific Development. This theme highlighted the importance of preserving cultural history and artifacts. Another year the theme focused on sustainable use of natural resources in China and all over the world.

Earth Day Down Under

In Australia, a group dressed in animal costumes held a parade in which they carried flags and banners in support of protecting Yellabinna (yell-uh-BEE-nah), the world’s largest stretch of mallee wilderness. Another Earth Day celebration drew attention to air pollution by organizing a large “car-less” day. Many central Sydney streets were blocked off to cars. These car-free streets became the site of an Earth Day festival with music, theater, and educational exhibits.

Join the Earth Day Party

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan rings the peace bell at a Peace Bell Ringing Ceremony.

Come join the party with millions of other kids and celebrate your Earth! Earth Day celebrations provide a chance to remember what an amazing planet we live on.

How have you celebrated Earth Day in the past?

Making Earth-friendly Choices

There are many different things each of us can do to help protect species, keep Earth clean, and fix damage that has been done. For example, using fewer natural resources will help make sure there are enough resources to go around. It will also help make sure that future generations won’t run out of the things we all need, like clean water, air, and soil.

Protecting Endangered Species

Conservation of endangered species is an important part of Earth Day and taking care of the planet every day. At the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya in Africa, orphaned baby rhinoceroses and elephants are raised by keepers. Eventually, they are released back into their wild habitat.

Along with pollution, things like habitat destruction and poaching are causing some species to become endangered. Finding ways to protect and save endangered species is a primary goal of conservation groups. Earth Day celebrations are a great opportunity for these groups to teach us all about the planet and how every person can make a difference.

So how will you celebrate our home Planet Earth? Mabye Plant a Tree? Sing a Song? Wear a Festive Green Shirt? No matter what you choose to do, you can be a part of a great experience, while making a difference in our world today.