On the occasion of Earth Day 2019, several events and campaigns were held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Each year, Earth Day—April 22—marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
- Theme: The Earth Day 2019 was celebrated across the world with theme of ‘Protect our Species’. According to the Earth Network, nature’s gifts to our planet are the millions of species that we know and love, and many more that remain to be discovered. Unfortunately, human beings have irrevocably upset the balance of nature and, as a result, the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction since we lost the dinosaurs more than 60 million years ago. The theme highlights that All living things have an intrinsic value, and each plays a unique role in the complex web of life. We must work together to protect endangered and threatened species: bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales and more.
Background
- On April 22, 1970, millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development.
- In the U.S. and around the world, smog was becoming deadly and evidence was growing that pollution led to developmental delays in children. Biodiversity was in decline as a result of the heavy use of pesticides and other pollutants.
- The global ecological awareness was growing, and the US Congress and President Nixon responded quickly. In July of the same year, they created the Environmental Protection Agency, and robust environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among many.
