Earth Day came to be in 1970 after Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin saw the damage done by a 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. This historical and lifechanging event inspired him to educate the public about the environment. We here at Prime were inspired to educate our public audience about it as well!
Here is a list of ways to take part in this year’s Earth Day:
- Go Outdoors
Go for a nature walk and simply appreciate it. Take a hike in a nearby park or practice yoga. Check out Three Rivers Park District which has over 27,000 acres of park reserves all around the Twin Cities.
- Earth Day City Clean-Ups and Helping Your Community
Join an organized city clean-up for the day with a group of family or friends. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board explains that Earth Day Cleanup is held at several sites throughout the City of Minneapolis. It is a collaborative effort between the MPRB and City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Another option is to simply walk around your neighborhood and pick up trash and recycle it. You can also plant a tree or help plant a garden for summer.
- Go A Day Without Throwing Anything Away
Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones. This saves you money while saving the planet. Remember to recycle all your papers and plastics.
- Make One Small Change in Your Home
Turn the lights off in your house when you aren’t using them or aren’t at home, shorten your shower by 5 minutes, turn the water off when you brush your teeth, or switch to compact LED bulbs that are eco-friendly. If everyone made one small change it could have a huge impact!
- Buy Local or Organic Food
When you buy local and support the local economy, you not only help a neighbor, you help the planet as well. Purchasing local, organic food minimizes shipping and the use of pesticides and preservatives – all things that have severe negative impacts on the environment.
- Earth Day March for Science Minnesota in St. Paul
This is a big way to celebrate. The March for Science Minnesota website states, “A coalition of Minnesotans from all professions and all walks of life, various non-profits, labor unions, and religious groups are marching on the state capitol on Saturday, April 22, to show support of higher education and the discovery, access, and understanding of scientific information. We are working to protect and defend science funding, regulatory agencies, and evidence based policy-making in recognition that science plays a vital role in the progress and sustainability of society.”
Check their website for more details: http://www.marchforsciencemn.com/march
- Everyday Things in Our Lives to Observe
Lastly, everyday things in our lives help protect our environment when we may not even think of it. How we use water, transportation and our recycling and energy use habits are all things that impact the environment. Some things to observe are: using less hot water, not leaving the water running, driving the speed limit, using public transportation and making sure your appliances are energy-efficient.
Earth Day can be a time to reflect on the impact we have as individuals on the environment. We hope you feel educated and inspired to go out and make a difference for our environment… not only on Earth Day, but every day!
