This April 22nd, take a moment to reflect on what the earth means to you as billions around the world celebrate Earth Day.
Begun over 40 years ago as a day of teach-ins in colleges and universities across the USA, Earth Day saw 20 million participate that first year. Growing year after year to include more countries and more events, the now global Earth Day reaches over a billion people around the world. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22nd International Mother Earth Day. Earth Day is organized by the Earth Day Network, helping to coordinate 19000 organizations in nearly 200 countries. Although the event has become a somewhat corporate with some companies being accused of participating to ‘green wash’ their corporate agenda. The basic premise of the day, to encourage discussion of the environment still trickles through in places across the globe.
Here in Canada events and activities take place all across the country, expanding into Earth Week and even Earth Month in some regions. Locally some of the big events are the 30th annual Earth Walk taking place Saturday April 21st, with day-long festivities throughout downtown Victoria. In Vancouver, Earth Day Vancouver events take place on the sight of a disused garbage dump, the Earth Day Parade takes place along Commercial Drive or check out Earth City Race.
