The Earth Day Network is hosting “A Billion Acts of Green®” in 2012. The goal is to register one billion environmentally friendly actions in advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development happening in Rio de Janeiro in June, 2012. At the Rio de Janeiro event, The Earth Day Network will face world leaders to demonstrate that people are willing to stand up and be counted. The Earth Day Network will also participate in helping to secure political commitment for more sustainable development, assess progress towards internationally agreed commitments and continue to address new and unforeseen challenges. It’s possible to register an act of green at Earth Day Network. For instance, using reusable grocery bags is an eco-friendly act that costs very little and saves so much. As of March 30th, more than 805,000,000 acts have been registered, so they are well on the way.
As stated by John Maleri, Associate Director of Earth Day and coordinator for A Billion Acts of Green®, “Rio+20 the Conference will focus on two overall themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. The conference will focus on 7 highlight areas in the context of these themes. These include decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.”
The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. According to the Earth Day Network, from the first Earth Day activities, more than 20 million Americans from all walks of life have contributed to such accomplishments as pressuring government leaders for the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws. Growing out of the first Earth Day, the Earth Day Network is thriving with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. All of Earth Day Network’s activities, whether promoting green economic policies at home or abroad, inform and energize communities to act in a way that will secure a healthy future this generation and beyond.
With their partner organizations, EDN provides community activity opportunities at the local, state, national and global levels. The Earth Day Network even works to broaden the definition of “environment” to include all issues that affect health, communities and the environment.
Along with asking individuals to pledge their own act of kindness towards the planet, there are also environmental events being held all over the world. Some of the events include a rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 22, 2012, where tens of thousands of environmentally conscious people, from all parts of the country, will be joined by civic leaders and celebrities to strengthen the environmental movement. Just recently, in Quertero Mexico, a play was held called, “Everyone Listen to the Call of the Earth”, where environmental songs were sung, parents brought local dishes, and residents handed out posters and leaflets on recycling, the Reserve’s biodiversity and protecting the important eco-systems in that area. In India, a group of people are planning to present a video about the importance of plants and trees for the continued survival of earth. This video will be presented on Earth Day.
Earth Day is April 22, 2012, but don’t have to wait until Earth Day to get started helping the planet. There are all kinds of “Acts of Green” to choose from at A Billion Acts of Green® that can be pledged to do. It’s possible to even create an original act of kindness and share it with the world to join in. From making schools more green, to using reusable shopping bags, the Earth Day Network leads people worldwide every year. In order to inspire global environmental activism, the Earth Day Network has chosen A Billion Acts of Green® as the theme for Earth Day 2012.