What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is held every year on 22 April to celebrate our planet and raise awareness about protecting the environment.
Its organisers say that over 1 billion people in more than 190 countries are involved.
It began back in 1970, to highlight pollution and environmental issues.
Earth Day helps remind everyone to look after our planet. It encourages people to help stop pollution, protect animals and nature, and do things that help slow down climate change.
Around the time of Earth Day, people often plant trees, clean up litter, recycle, and join campaigns to protect nature. They might also start to make small environmental changes to their lifestyle so that they can enjoy our Earth for many more years to come.
Watch: Happy Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day to you, Happy Earth Day to you, Happy Earth Day dear … Earth (and everyone else on the planet), Happy Earth Day to you!
EARTH (SINGS): Happy Earth Day to me,
Happy Earth Day to me.
HOST: Earth you came!
EARTH: Oh, uh, of course.
EARTH: A party celebrating me. Why wouldn't I?
EARTH: Also, I brought my own karaoke just in case.
EARTH (SINGS): Oh, yeah.
HOST: It's not that kind of celebration.
EARTH: Oh, cute.
Oooooh are these my gifts?
Oh, you shouldn't have. I'm only kidding. You should.
Really? A small with my equator.
HOST: Ah, it's a clothes swap. People swap their old clothes instead of just throwing them away…
EARTH: Ooooh shiny things!
HOST: …and she's gone.
EARTH: Aaah! Italy could do with a bit of bedazzling. Don't you think?
CRAFTER: Oh, I'm actually using those to upcycle. Check out this shoe box. I've actually turned it into a jewellery box for precious things.
EARTH: Okay, well my precious things are Hawaii, the Caribbean and Norwich.
None of them are gonna fit in your little box.
HOST: Over here. Er, people are turning food waste into compost, which is good for plants.
EARTH: Ooh, worst smoothie ever. Dread to think what you guys have done with the cake.
CRAFTER: Yeah, there is no cake.
HOST: I did try to explain this Earth Day party is a reuse and recycle event.
EARTH: Well I'm the Earth and I would prefer an 'everyone buys lots of nice gifts for Earth' party.
HOST: But this is a gift for you. For everything here would have ended up in rubbish dumps if it had just been thrown away.
EARTH: And that's my problem because…
HOST: Because rubbish that goes straight to landfill sites like this.
Releases chemicals that pollute your soil, water and air. And so everything that's reused and kept out of landfill makes you healthier.
EARTH: So you're doing all of this for me?
HOST: Exactly.
EARTH: Oh.
If only there was something I could do for you.
And there is.
EARTH SINGS: I give you the gift of my muuusiiiic…
HOST: No, please don't.
EARTH SINGS: Happy Earth Day to me,
Happy Earth Day to me,
Happy Earth Day, Happy Earth Day,
Happy Earth Day to me.
What can we do to help our planet?
Everyday lifestyle changes can help our wonderful planet.
People could consider:
Reducing the amount of energy they use by switching off lights and appliances when they are not being used.
Reusing shopping bags, plastic bottles, and containers rather than throwing them away.
Recycling rubbish so that it can be turned into new things.
Upcycling old things like clothes or furniture – keeping them in use for longer.
Eating sustainably by choosing locally sourced, seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Cleaning up the environment by always putting litter in a bin.
Walking, cycle, or using public transport if and when they can.
Planting native trees and flowers. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. Pollinator-friendly flowers provide food for bees and butterflies who then spread pollen, which helps plants to reproduce and create seeds and fruits for us to eat.
Talking to friends, family and leaders about protecting nature.
Horrible Science fact
Around the world, it is difficult to know the exact number, but it is estimated that people plant roughly 1.8 to 1.9 billion trees every year. This sounds like a huge number - but far more trees are cut down each year.
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