Do you remember when we had a cupboard full of spare planets in case something happened to this one? If so, we’ve got some bad news: someone’s lost the key, and the cupboard. That means we’ve just got planet Earth for the foreseeable future.
Here’s some better news though: the planet gets to have its own day! Earth Day, started in the US, happens on the 22nd of April every year. Its purpose is to make us take action to protect the planet and the natural world. It’s important to remember that we really do just have the one world to live on, so we need to do a whole lot more to take care of it. (Even if the cupboard turns up at some point.)
Earth Day’s history
EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is ‘to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide’. The first event was in 1970, and they’ve been driving positive change ever since. Their victories page is well worth visiting because it’s a great reminder that taking action can work.
The fight to end plastic pollution
The theme this year is ‘Planet vs Plastics’. We’re in favour of this, even if it does contradict a claim about the material being fantastic which was made in Aqua’s Barbie Girl.
The stuff’s everywhere these days. It plastic gets in the way plastic of things when plastic it ends up where it plastic shouldn’t be. That’s a minor irritation when it’s interfering with a sentence’s words – plastic – but it’s serious when it’s threatening wildlife across the globe.
Plastic’s effects on birds
It can wreak havoc on a bird’s digestive tract when ingested, and this is happening more and more. The issue has even created a new disease: plasticosis. It affects birds’ growth and digestion, and ultimately their survival.
According to the Natural History Museum, ‘some studies have found that as many as 90% of young birds contain at least some plastic fed to them by their parents’. That’s not a low number!
Entanglement’s also a big problem, with birds and other wildlife getting trapped in discarded plastic. There’s been some progress in combatting this: some supermarkets and manufacturers have banned the use of beer being held together by plastic rings or shrink wrap, for instance. There’s still a long way to go though.
How you can help
EARTHDAY.ORG is doing a lot to combat plastic pollution, but their efforts rely on people across the world getting involved. Fortunately, there’s plenty we can do to help.
For a start, check out the Earth Day ‘End Plastics’ initiative. This page is full of info about how to take action and why doing so is essential.
Most of us buy way too much plastic, so another great thing you can do is cut down your use. Earth Day wants to help you with this so they’ve created their #PlasticDetox challenge. Get involved by sharing your tips and photos with the hashtag, and see what others are doing to reduce their reliance on polluting packaging.
If you do need to buy something made of/containing plastic, you can still help. Opt for reusable rather than single-use items, and recycle everything whenever possible.
Take part in events
You can do this all year round, but Earth Day is a great excuse to try something new that helps the planet. There are events happening across the world, so chances are there’ll be something going on near you.
Some of it looks pretty fun too! For example, there’s a great event just down the road from us: a paddleboarding clean up organised by Planet Patrol.
Head to the Earth Day website to learn more about this great organisation. And if you’re getting involved, share what you’re up to on social media. Don’t forget to tag us so we can enjoy your successes!
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