DNA: Protect our planet: April 22, 2009

Earth Day was established in the year 1970 with Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmental activist, taking a lead role in organizing the event. Since then, it has gradually managed to put environmental issues on the global agenda. Environmental groups have sought to make Earth Day into a day of action which changes human behaviour and provokes policy changes.

While it began in the US, over the years April 22 has become an ‘Environmental Action Day’ worldwide, inspiring awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Many cities extend the schedule of Earth Day observance events to be an entire week, usually starting on April 16, and ending on Earth Day, April 22. These events are designed to encourage environmentally-aware behaviours, including increased recycling, improved energy-efficiency, and reduction in disposable items.

Mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting the status of environmental issues onto the world stage, Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide.

Earth Day 2000 had the Internet to help link activists around the world. 5,000 environmental groups around the world were on board, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people in a record 184 countries. Earth Day 2000 sent the message loud and clear that citizens the world ’round wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy.

Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest with an estimated billion people participating in the activities in thousands of places like Kiev, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; Tuvalu; Manila, Philippines; Togo; Madrid, Spain; London; and New York.

Earth Day is an annual event that began to discuss the state of the environment; and ways for individuals to halt its destruction. Those commemorating Earth Day consider it an opportunity to celebrate the gains we have made and create new vision to accelerate environmental preservation. Earth Day is an occasion for people across the world to unite and outline new action plans. It is a reminder of the need to protect our planet.

Each country has to face its own set of issues. For instance, India has to cope with higher air pollution caused by the rising number of automobiles, dumping of electronic gadgets resulting in e-waste, bio-waste, water pollution, etc.

Rather than just complain about rising pollution levels, let us try and be part of the solution. These are a few things that all of us can do in our individual capacity, to preserve the environment:

* Clean or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least once a month.
* Unplug seldom used appliances.
* Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
* Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
* Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label
* Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
* Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
* Plant trees outside your home.
* Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
* Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.
* Copy and print on both sides of paper.
* Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
* Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
* Use recycled paper.
* Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
* Use a ceramic mug for tea or coffee instead of a disposable cup.
* Use solar power for home and water heating.
* Join a carpool to get to work.
* Check and fix any water leaks.
* Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
* Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
* Shop with a cloth bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
* Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.