We have had a long, cold, snowy winter in Minnesota this year, so we are all eager for warm spring weather. As our thoughts turn to green grass, sunshine, and leaves on the trees, so do our thoughts turn to Earth Day, celebrated April 22. The theme for Earth Day 2018 is "End Plastic Pollution." According to Professor Andrew Holmes in his post, "Plastic and How it Affects Our Oceans," states, "No one in their daily life within a period of 10 minutes isn't touching something that is made of plastic," and this interesting article goes on to provide information on the global issue of plastics in the environment.
What Is Earth Day?
Did you know that the first Earth Day celebration was April 22, 1970, almost 50 years ago, and it led to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)? Prior to 1970 there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. According to the EPA History: Earth Day website, in the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI) created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated support for the environment in different U.S. cities, and it worked. In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What Can You Do?
Laboratories can make a difference in a variety of ways: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Conduct an Energy Audit—at work, at school, or at home, and find out where you use the most energy and develop strategies to help you save energy. Learn about Tips to Reduce Waste at the Office and Reducing Plastic Waste.
Have some fun at home—how about building a Recycled Trash Sculpture, a Mud Pie Kitchen, or Make Paper? Here’s a fun way to Feed the Birds.
As I did some searching on Earth Day information, I found some other great resources and fun/educational activities. Take a look and enjoy—there’s some great reading below:
For laboratories:
For children, young adults, and families:
If your laboratory or organization has come up with some Earth Day activities or ways to go green, let me know, and I’ll share with others. And don’t miss Arbor Day, April 27, 2018—it is right around the corner. Happy spring and happy green.