Every year, on April 22, millions of people in hundreds of countries celebrate Earth Day. Now on its 44th year, Earth Day was first observed and celebrated in 1970. At the height of the hippie and flower child culture in the United States, the modern environment movement was born. According to earthday.org, "Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center."
Earth Day 2014 is The Year of The Climate Voter. The primary focus is the fight against climate change. The Earth Day Network encourages everyone to stand up and to be involved in the fight for climate change reversal. Their collective goal is to educate and register 300,000 new climate voters this year. These voters will be responsible for supporting renewable energy and a establishing a transition to a more sustainable future. The official theme of Earth Day 2014 is Green Cities. The Green Cities campaign is focused on helping cities around the world become more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint. Focused on three key elements -- buildings, energy, and transportation -- the campaign aims to help cities accelerate their transition to a cleaner, healthier, and more economically viable future through improvements in efficiency, investments in renewable technology, and regulation reform.
This year's campaigns will be geared towards recycling, planting and other activities intended for the planet's safety and protection. There are also campaigns for increased awareness regarding recycling and energy-efficient communities.
In Europe, several events will be held to celebrate Earth Day. In Geneva, Switzerland, a "green sale" and an organic food sale to raise money to plant trees on the school ground will be held by the International School of Geneva.
Clean up efforts in 30 villages, tree planting, and building nesting boxes of birds are some of the events that the Gutta-Club in Chisinau, Moldova, will conduct.
The annual ECO-Explorer Camp for kids in Dublin will run from April 22-April 25. The campers or ECO=Explorers will participate in activities that will involve local urban ecology, weather measurements, wildlife and Dublin's green spaces. There will also be designing of future Green Cities using drawings and 3D art. These efforts are done by Earth Day Network partner ECO-UNESCO.
According to the site, Earth Day will also be celebrated in Africa and Middle East. In Tunisia, the Maya Organization, an NGO hosted by the Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences of Tunis (ISSBAT) that promotes sustainable clean technologies and adaptation to climate change, will be hosting the "Go Greener Maya Competition," through which university students will propose projects ideas to reduce, recycle and/or reuse waste within ISSBAT.
In Ghana, the 4-H Million Tree Project is conducting a number of tree planting events at schools in celebration of Earth Day. In particular, the 4-Hers will start a mango tree planting project. The fruit will be sold to local retailers who make mango juice and the mango trees planted by 4-H students will help raise incomes among community members.
In Oman, students of GUtech, German University of Technology in Oman, are organizing an annual Earth Day Event at Al Sahwa Park. They will promote "green life" by selling local fresh products and encouraging people to plant trees. The event will also offer a variety of fun and educational opportunities for kids directed at teaching them how they can improve the world around them by planting trees and flowers.
And in Iraq, the Iraqi Green Peace Organization plans to create environmental clubs in primary schools and teach children how to protect the city and increase green spaces. Afterwards, they will work with the students on a volunteer reforestation campaign for schools, where they will be partnering with local foundations and volunteers from the community.
These are just some of the participating countries' planned activities for Earth Day. What's yours?
Learn more about Earth Day on https://www.earthday.org/
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