All around the world today, April the 22nd, marks Earth Day and it presents us all with a chance to demonstrate our support for the protection of our environment. Earth Day was founded in 1970 by U.S Senator Gaylord Nelson, and he wanted to create a “national teach-in on the environment.” Mr Nelson’s sudden desire to increase national knowledge on all things environmental was very heavily influenced after he witnessed the awful effects the 1960 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California had on the local environment.
Earth Day took a while to while to gain traction, but it eventually went global in 1990 and it is today celebrated in an estimated 192 countries. Whilst the notion of celebrating Earth Day has now grown and spread to all corners of the globe, some governments and large multinational corporation’s attitudes towards the environment have remained worryingly entrenched in the past. For every positive story you hear, such as the news the China is finally waking up to the pressures it has put on the environment and is creating a National Park which will be larger than Yellowstone in America, there are far more negative ones. An example of this includes the fact that we as humans are responsible for causing Earths fastest climate change in 50 million years.
It can be very tough knowing how to best help the environment and keep up to date with the latest goings on, and that is why we want to help you further your understanding of the issues facing our planet on Earth Day 2017. We want to introduce you to some alternate and perhaps even under-utilised methods you can use to learn a little more about environmental issues. They are:
Ted Talks
For anyone who does not know, Ted Talks are short videos of some of the world’s most intelligent and inspiring people discussing topics that are very close to their hearts. These talks are on a variety of topics from technology right through to entertainment, but some of the best talks are on the topic of the environment. Listed below are three talks we found particularly inspiring regarding the topic of environment.
My Wish: Protect our Oceans
Sylvia Earle has been at the forefront of ocean exploration for over four decades, and in her talk she shares some spectacular images of the ocean as well as a whole host of dramatic and worrying statistics about its decline. Sylvia’s message is one of coming together to protect the oceans, as without this crucial habitat our planets decline will only speed up.
https://www.ted.com/talks/sylvia_earle_s_ted_prize_wish_to_protect_our_oceans
A Novel Idea For Cleaning Up Oil Spills
When Cesar Harada heard about the devastation the BP oil spill caused to the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, he immediately quit his dream job and moved to New Orleans to develop a more efficient way to soak up the oil. Hadara’s designs are unique, but without his forward thinking and drive, the ongoing situation in the Gulf of Mexico could have been a lot worse.
https://www.ted.com/talks/cesar_harada_a_novel_idea_for_cleaning_up_oil_spills
Time-lapse Proof Of Extreme Ice Loss
Climate change is happening and it is happening fast. Photographer James Balog used his Ted Talk to demonstrate just how quickly this is happening via the medium of time-lapse photography. His incredible images show the speed at which the world’s glaciers are disappearing and it is a severe wake up call for us all.
https://www.ted.com/talks/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss
Whilst Twitter is now a common feature in most of our lives, it is still perhaps under-utilised when on the topic of environmental issues. There are a host of accounts out there that can bring you a constant stream of environmental updates that you otherwise may have missed and they include:
This is a frequently updated source of information on the world’s most important environmental issues.
Yale Environment 360 is an online magazine run by the people at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and it offers reporting, analysis and opinion on global environmental issues.
Nature Conservancy’s twitter feed is a good source of exciting environmental content, with a recent piece allowing you to follow a field scientist in the wilds of Indonesian Borneo for a day.
The Huffington Post’s large reach allows it to get stories that others may miss, so it is a good account to be following.
Plant Green offers you practical advice everyday on how to live a slightly greener lifestyle!
This is of course not an extensive list of twitter accounts, but if you follow these accounts then your timeline will certainly be filled with a lot more environmental tips and news!
Treehugger
This website has such a mixture of news, tips, and generally interesting reads that it is well worth being bookmarked for future reading. The topics on the websites are extremely varied and have included everything from 7 tips for spring cleaning without the need to use toxic chemicals right through to what you should do with your old car seats to ensure that they are correctly recycled!
This website is a treasure trove of all things environmental, so if you are looking for something to read then this is the place to head!
Earth Day is a chance for everyone to play a part in helping to protect the environment we live in. This can come in the form of an action as dramatic as volunteering with animals or something as simple as talking the time to learn more about the damage humans are doing to the environment through the methods above. It is up to you how you help on Earth Day 2017, but the important thing is that you do.
