V . K Magotra
Vande mataram…. Vande mataram,
Maa aa aa…. ma…..
Sujalam suphalam malayaj shitlam, shasyashyamalam mataram, vande
Vande mataram….
-A befitting tribute to Motherland by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Today we are celebrating the 46th anniversary of Earth Day all over the planet with special emphasis on protection of plants and animals and to clean up the world we live in. Undoubtedly Earth Day is the largest , most widely celebrated international environmental event. Earth Day helps celebrate earth’s unique place in the universe. It is only planet in our solar system teeming with incredible biodiversity. Learning about and protecting the biodiversity is what Earth Day is all about. Though every year 22nd of April is observed as Earth Day, but in some countries it is celebrated a month earlier on the vernal equinox.
Earth Day marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness channeling the energy of the anti war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front & center. In 1990 , Earth Day went global , mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries & lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped save the way for the 1992 united nation earth summit in Rio De Janerio. Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Inspite of the challenge for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day network is established as a powerful focal point -around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day network brought 2,25,000 people to the National Mall for a climate rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions towards its 2012 goal of A Billion Act of green, launched as international , 1 – million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to cover 900,000 community members.
Historically the first Earth Day was celebrated on 22 April,1970 in the United States by its founder the then a Senator Gaylord Nelson. After witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Cali-Fornia, Nelson realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about, air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Across the United States there was a massive response where 20 million people and thousand of local schools/communities participated.
Modern theories on formation of the Earth & other planets are of course based on the Copernican theory. The age of Earth was a matter of speculation till very recent times. It was only 200 years ago, that the scientific enquirers were started by geologist. According to their deductions, based on the study of rocks, the age of the Earth is 4.6 billion years. Our knowledge of the internal Earth Day age of the internal structure of the earth is derived Earth Day from the studies of earthquakes. The shock waves sent out by an earthquake indicate the physical nature of the regions through which they pass. These studies show that the centre of the earth is a solid core- the inner core. The movement of earth has an important bearing on its constituents.
The earth rotates around its axis. The axis is an imaginary line passing through the centre of earth. The earth completes one rotation in 24 hours and rotates from west to east. It revolves in its elliptical orbit around the sun. One revolution is complete Earth Day in 3651/4 days, resulting in one extra day every fourth year. The year consists of 366 days is call Earth Day the ‘leap year’ having 29 days in the month of February.
Thus by evidential references it is transpired that the nature has bestowed its bountiful blessings to mankind for its overall growth and nourishment. But aberrations and disturbances caused by the mankind in biodiversity has led to such distortions making the lives of people deplorable, polluted and unbearable in the present scenario. Owing to frustration caused to the people with failure of governments to take any steps toward protecting and preserving the environment, the Earth Day campaign has been designed to provide people with opportunity to unite their voices in a call for a sustainable future and direct them towards quantifiable outcomes. Thus the Earth Day is a launching pad for growing the environmental movement and will put forth a bold declaration demanding immediate action to secure renewable energy for all and sustainable future for our planet. The people from all walks of life, from all corners of the earth should be mobilized to put an end to fossil fuel subsidies, embrace renewable energy technology, improve energy efficiency and make energy universally accessible.
All-out efforts are being made around the world by maintaining area wise special campaigns for environmental actions and seeking global referendum demanding change. Our goal is to reach one billion actions by the United Nations conference on sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2010. Surely with this accomplishment at Rio+20 conference a lever to address the UN’s inaction & inspire leaders to reach a Global agreement can be put on place.
Today, a clarion call has been given to local leaders around the world to lead the campaign by addressing the impact of climate change & other environmental challenge facing their communities through degradation of Environment and other relevant issues. By way of holding various mass communication activities, the leaders will convey their ideas and opinions on environmental issues and share best practices to mankind to learn about ongoing initiatives and provide input on current sustainability plans Educating the youth and to capture the attention of students, teachers, parents and communities to promote environmental literacy and aware the people about importance of individual actions that reduce the world’s carbon footprint would go a long way in making the Earth- a peaceful abode in near future.
The mobilization of Universities of the world, holding of various competitions, administering of ‘Go Green’ pledge’s etc., are major ‘Earth day’ events of the day. To bridge gap between environmental movement and Arts & Sports communicates respectively the Earth, campaigns have been put in place. Registering of voters network & petition demanding the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets etc, would be to focussed to world leaders at the United Nation Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in June 2012.Not out this religious outreach leaders from all faiths are also be roped in for demonstration regarding protection of Earth which is wholly consistent with a belief in their God. Many religious leaders have prepared ‘Earth Day Sermons ‘for going to their congregations on the week of the Earth Day.Access to renewable energy resources will play a critical role in the shift to more sustainable society. The day would also be utilize for a global action to promote renewable energy initiative and build import for comprehensive action plan at the UN+20 conference at Rio in June 2012.
The fight for a clean environment continues in a climate of increasing urgency. The people’s participation with projection of more victories and successes into history would discover many unhidden treasures of energy. Let us all resolve and channelize our energy in building a clean, healthy diverse world for generations to come.
Like other part, of the world India, too has emerged as decisive environmental, Social, economic and political power. The day is attracting the attention of partners to build/to mobilize the society including leadership for protection of environment. The Earth Day Network India’s director Shri Karuna Singh has over 20 years experience and is engaged with stockholders of the world to give relief to the inhabitants from hazards of all kinds of pollutions of carbon emission and promotion including sustainability of ‘New’ Global environment movement. To commemorate the Mother Earth Day all communities are engaged in mass tree planting & preserving the flora & fauna.
To sum up in Indian context, a tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth’s creativity. It has Shakti. It restores balance in the environment by it positive force. The Pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhist. The Buddha attained Nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said” I am as strong as the Pipal among trees”. The Puranas exalt the tree in economic terms as wealth as a great asset to mankind.
Tree worship link us with the Nature Spirit. Nature in all its moods and manifestations represents harmony and joy. Let us take pledge to pay obeisance to Earth with humility & help mankind in nourishment of all creatures on the planet Earth. On this solemn day we need you to take stand so that together we can show world a new direction, which is the theme of the day.
” Trees for the earth” .Let us resolve to undertake massive plantation in next five years for enabling us to achieve ambitious universal goal of planting 7.8 billion trees while moving closer to 50th anniversary of earth day.
(The writer is former Media officer of the Ministry of I&B, Government of India.)