THE INDUSTRIAL AGE which dawned in Great Britain in the mid-18th century, characterized by power-driven machines and mass production, has led to today’s modern world. Not surprisingly, it also heralded problems which threaten Planet Earth.
From that scenario, the Earth Day event every April 22, now coordinated by Earthday.org (formerly Earth Day Network), came about in 1970 in the highly industrialized United States and henceforth grew fast into a global event. There are now 192 countries including the Philippines marking the day and even the whole month of April.
EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, 2025
This year’s global theme is Our Power, Our Planet. It focuses on renewable energy and tripling global electricity generation from renewable sources (the clean electricity) by 2030. That certainly is on point with the urgent need to reduce carbon from fossil fuels as a key action to prevent the possibly catastrophic effects of climate change.
Some popular actions during the month include tree-planting, Nature walks, group biking in city roads, art exhibits, field trips for school children, concerts, bazaars of eco-friendly products, recycling demos. It is also an opportunity to draw people to make donations and pledges in support of environment protection initiatives.
In lieu of the go-to tree planting (which is not advised during the very hot summer), the Forest Foundation of the Philippines is offering Earth Day partnership opportunities to companies in its Conservation Pathways. This year, it prioritizes the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve, an important watershed for NCR and home to mostly indigenous communities and rich biodiversity.
There will be an Earth Day Run (5k, 10k, and 21k categories) for fitness buffs at the SM Mall of Asia on April 27 by Race Roster in partnership with a global humanitarian organization, Tzu Chi Philippines. The activity will underscore the importance of reducing carbon footprints and conserving resources.
Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, which heeds the call to regenerate ecosystems, will hold mangrove tree-planting events with coastal clean-ups for three companies during the month. To prepare the participants, a talk on the science of tree planting will be given.
More activities have been planned by other advocate groups and at school and community levels.
The challenges to the planet’s sustainability have become more threatening as civilization advances… In each of us is the power to save the planet we have been blessed to be our home.
EACH DAY FOR EARTH
On its 55th anniversary, Earth Day cannot but sustain thematic activities across the globe.
The challenges to the planet’s sustainability have become more threatening as civilization advances. Mechanization has immensely advanced technological innovations that may further robotize human skills, and not remotely, blunt the spirit to care for Nature.
Yet, we don’t necessarily have to hit the ceiling in imagining ways to protect Earth. It is in the way we live day to day, lifestyle we call. Simple things like saving on energy at home and on the commute to work. Learning to reduce, re-use, recycle. Avoiding products that damage the soil, air, and water.
In each of us is the power to save the planet we have been blessed to be our home.