Celebrate World Environment Day
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th every year and is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
Humans have been concerned with protecting their environment since ancient times. History tells us of people moving to a new land once pasturelands became barren and overused soil became useless for farming. When industries grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, polluted air and water from factories and large populations became a concern. Just as it is important to clean up and take care of the house you live in, it is equally important to care for the Earth. After all, it is where we all live!
Examples of the negative impacts of people include air, water, and soil pollution, and the massive amounts of garbage and waste people produce every day.
Resource demand – As the number of people in the world grows, a strain is put on natural resources that people need. Some resources, like fossil fuels, cannot be replaced.
Pollution – Humans have been very successful in creating products and technologies to improve their lives. However, many of those products and technologies have led to pollution in the soil, water, and air from waste and byproducts.
Waste production – The average American throws away about 4 pounds of trash per day. Think how much that is in a year—and that’s just garbage generated in the United States!
You may be thinking, “These are such big problems to solve!” You may believe there is nothing you can do to help save and improve the environment. But every day, people can make choices that affect Earth in positive ways. Examples include:
Plant trees – Trees release oxygen and help provide homes and resources for animals.
Drive less – Ride a bike, walk, or carpool as a way to cut down on air pollution and use less fuel.
Save water – Don’t waste water! Take shorter showers, and don’t leave the faucet running.
Save energy – Turn off any electronics or lights when they are not in use.
Recycle and Reuse – Recycle bottles, cans, and boxes instead of just throwing them away. Buy products that can be reused in a different way.
Buy biodegradable products that will break down easily in the environment.
World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on June 8th.
Did you know? Earth is often referred to as the “Blue Planet.” About 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with water. There is water in the air and clouds, and even under the ground. The ocean is the large body of saltwater that surrounds the Earth’s landmasses. It contains 97% of the Earth’s hydrosphere (Earth’s water). This large body of water is usually divided geographically into smaller oceans called the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, Southern, and Arctic Oceans.
A sea is a smaller body of saltwater that is partially or completely surrounded by land. The width and depth of the oceans are often described as “unfathomable,” and “endless.”
For ancient civilizations, the oceans were mysterious and powerful. Today, we know a lot more about the oceans, but they are still powerful and mysterious. Scientists estimate that oceanographers have explored only 5% of the world’s oceans!
Scientists are still discovering things about how the ocean works, and what plants and animals live there, especially in the deepest, unexplored regions of the ocean floor.
What do we know? Oceans are essential to life on Earth. They are home to many species of plants and the smallest and largest animals found anywhere on Earth. Oceans drive the Earth’s weather, control temperatures, and play an important role in the water cycle. For people, oceans are a source of food, transportation, and natural resources used in industries worldwide.
Together, we can create a healthier ocean that sustains us all, no matter where we live.