Even though there are some of us who like to celebrate the environment every day, Friday is the official United Nations day to don your green gear and plant a few trees. “World Environment Day,” as it’s known, has been celebrated every June 5th since 1972, when it was first established by the UN as a way to promote environmental awareness. Every year a different country plays host of the party; this year is Mexico.
While the day seems to pale in popularity next to Earth Day, each year’s celebration has a theme and myriad events to highlight the world’s main environmental issues. It’s no surprise that this year the focus is on global warming, as it’s been every few years since the 1980s. “Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change” demonstrates that countries traditionally not part of the international global warming discussions, like those in Latin America, are joining debates and reducing carbon. This year’s day is also a precursor to the all-important climate talks in Copenhagen.
Here’s a look at what some people did around the world to raise awareness:
- A Greenpeace activist in Mexico parachuted down with a banner reading, in Spanish, “Save the Climate.”
- Children took part by participating in painting competitons, where they submitted original artwork pertaining to themes like “Climate Change: Our Challenge” and “Green Earth, Beautiful Earth.” The competition, sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program, awarded six regional winners between ages 6 and 14. Winning entries included a thermometer being wrestled away from “good” hands by a “bad” global warming hand.
- In Tokyo, focus was on the Olympic Games bid for 2016. The Tokyo 2016 committee is promoting carbon reductions, much like many of the cities vying for the Games. For World Environment Day, Yoyogi Park, close to the famed shopping district of Harajuku in Tokyo, is hosting an eco fair in place of the usual flea markets where you can buy anything from jewelry to Japanese food to shirts with lewd sayings.
- Nigeria launched a tree-planting campaign and held a number of news conferences on the role climate change plays in Africa. Special TV programs also hit the airwaves, and schools held debates on global warming.
- In New York City, Paris and Athens, premiere parties for the new film “Home” will feature Glenn Close, the mayor of Seoul and the director, among other names. The film will also be launched in 123 countries. Shot in more than 50 countries by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, tt highlights the world’s treasures and the need to protect the fragile planet.
Though the momentum might be high today, let’s hope it stays up through December. It’s collaborative events like this that might be the best way to convince world leaders that citizens are ready to see the regulations needed to stop the global warming.
Photo Credit: JIGGS_IMAGES at Flickr under a Creative Commons License
