What Can You Do To Support Earth Day 2016?

Written by: Frank Iacono

Today, Friday, April 22, 2016, marks the 46^th Anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day is a day for action; a chance to show how important the environment is to us. So, when was the first Earth Day? Well, it’s hard to believe that we first celebrated Earth Day on April 22, 1970. So, who started it? It all began behind the support of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who wanted to use this as a nationwide environmental tech-in day.

Earth Day 1970 featured a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, tycoons and labor leaders, and city slickers and farmers. Additionally, the first Earth Day also led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. Ever since, Earth Day has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

What Can You Do for Earth Day?

Whether you organize an event in your community or teach a peer about environmental issues, Earth Day is about uniting voices around the globe in support of a healthy planet. In support of Earth Day 2016, I encourage you to participate. See below for ideas on how you can get involved:

• Using social media outlets like Facebook, Google +, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube as well as emailing your family, friends, and business colleagues to spread the word about Earth Day
• Pledging an act of green
• Organizing, attending or donating to an Earth Day event
• Switching to reusable shopping bags
• Finding an alternative means of transportation such as biking, walking, mass transit or carpooling
• Taking the stairs instead of elevators
• Turning off all electrical devices such as televisions and radios when not in use
• Turning off all lights when not in use
• Purchasing Energy Star rated appliances
• Finding ways to use water more efficiently
• Taking shorter showers
• Installing a low-flow shower head to conserve water
• Lowering hot water heaters
• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• Plant a tree

For additional Earth Day-based information, please visit the following websites:

• http://www.earthday.org
• http://www.nature.org/earthday/index.html
• http://action.earthday.net/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18946

Remember that one person can make a difference!