For all nature lovers, April means one thing, Earth Day. Fifty years before, in 1970, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson initiated the first Earth Day. This brought together millions of people in the country who demanded the protection of our planet. In today’s world, it is vital for us to consider our planet Earth because as we humans develop crazy new inventions, we also build hundreds of polluting factories to produce them. So, no matter what we do, there should always be one thing in our mind. Our beautiful blue, life giving Earth.

Earth Day is a special day for the entire planet. It is often marked by several protests and rallies that take to the streets, demanding justice for the planet. This year, due to Covid-19 running rampant, that is hardly sensible because it would mean mass gatherings which should be avoided. But, thanks to the internet, there are many other ways for today’s generation to express their opinions through Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

So, why do we actually celebrate Earth Day? Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22nd April to spread awareness about the protection of the Earth. It helps people know more about the anthropogenic and natural pollutants that are released into the environment.

All of us know about the various problems that are faced by the planet. Global warming is one of the major problems. Due to high emissions of carbon dioxide, CFCs and other greenhouse gases, the temperature on the Earth rises and causes many side effects to the planet. It melts the glaciers and increases the ocean level. In fact, many islands have completely disappeared because of this very reason.

Then there is also the matter of deforestation. Day by day, we cut down hundreds of life giving trees. This leads to soil erosion and other environmental problems. As we destroy forests, it also harms the ecosystem. Every year, we drive numerous plants and animals to extinction.

Along with all this, we also use all of the Earth’s resources. There is enough on the planet for each and every living being. But we are the ones who disrupt the balance. This problem is that we use more than we actually need. We misuse all the natural resources. We take all the non-renewable resources like natural gas, oil, petrol, etc. from deep inside the Earth and we don’t bother to limit our consumption.

But, this has to stop. We have to be more conscious of our usage of natural resources. We have to adopt different methods to conserve our resources. The governments of the world should harness the renewable energy provided by the Earth like solar, wind, thermal and hydroelectricity. The construction of Green buildings should be ensured. Sorting of waste should be encouraged and recycling of plastics and paper should be done.

Each and every one of us should do our part in saving the Earth. After all small drops make up the vast ocean. So we should follow the 3 R’s: reuse, recycle and reuse. And then, I am sure you know all of the things you can do to limit your usage of paper and plastics. If we adopt all those practices, then we can save our planet together.

The Earth does many things for us. She gives us the soft dark fertile soil to grow our crops and the refreshing rain from the endless sky to quench our thirst. She gives us anything and everything we need to survive. She is the one who cares for us and nurtures us. The only thing she need in return is our protection.

So, if we all come together, nothing is impossible. We should all contribute to the protection of our planet in our little ways. No matter what you do, big or small, it matters.

As Gandhi says,

“The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”