Mother Earth Day
Have you ever wondered when the birthday of the Earth, our home, is? Our planet Earth was formed more than 4.5 billion years ago, but only recently did we have a birthday for the Earth, also known as Mother Earth Day, April 22.
With the desire to spread people’s awareness about the impacts of industrialization on the environment and nature, Earth Day was first initiated by the U.S senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970 in light of the damaging environmental situation in the US. The event has received great support from the Americans and has gradually grown in popularity, declared by the United Nations as International Mother Earth Day. [1]
In many countries, Earth Day is considered one of the largest annual civic events on the planet with a series of activities and campaigns to protect the environment, including the endorsement of amendments of environmental laws and the promotion of local action.
The celebration of Earth Day in Viet Nam
In Vietnam, when searching on the Internet, one can see a lot of information and events about Earth Hour while Earth Day events are less widely communicated.
Since 2012, in order to spread the messages and raise people’s awareness of Earth Day, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has actively coordinated with businesses, enterprises and organizations to jointly organize events to celebrate Earth Day every year with meaningful interactive activities such as jogging, exhibition about the state of waste in Viet Nam, campaigns to exchange scrap and electronic waste for environmentally friendly products, waste sorting and waste collection, etc.
Vietnamese youth participated in clearning the public envvironment in Earth Day 2016. Photo: Environmental News
Running activities in celebration of Earth Day 2019. Photo: MONRE
In 2020, to actively raise awareness of children about Earth Day, UNICEF in Vietnam has introduced a cartoon about climate change on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day based on the story of a 12-year-old youth at the comic test to create superhero that can save the earth and fight against natural disasters and climate change, jointly organized by UNICEF, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Young Pioneer Council.
Watch the cartoon here: https://youtu.be/r5DjMbL9jIk
Invest in our planet – For a green future and prosperity for all
With the theme of “Invest in our planet”[2], this year’s Earth Day aims to encourage governments, corporations and the private sector to step up concrete action towards sustainability, green consumption and a more active role in protecting the Earth’s health.
Human take great responsibility for the planetary well-being, human needs to act for the earth, for our living environment and for humanity. Especially youngsters, the future leaders of the world and those affected by the negative impacts of climate change.
Watch more about Earth day 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYFc4O6Sg_Q
“Earth and Earth resources are on the verge of depletion. Whether that prospect comes true or not depends greatly on the actions of today’s young people. Take care of the Earth like we care about ourselves. Investing in the earth is investing in people’s future!” – shared by Van Thien. “Earth Day should not be the only day of the year, hopefully we can make every day an Earth Day, listen and act for the Earth.”
As we celebrate Earth Day, you are invited to share your views and opinion on how youth want to take action on the environment and climate change in Vietnam. The survey “Vietnamese youth for Stockholm+50 – This is our planet Earth” is focusing on the opinions of young Vietnamese between the ages of 15 and 35.
Not only assessing youth’s concern about the environment, the survey will support the development of youth-led report “This is our planet Earth” as well as contribute a voice to Vietnam’s Stockholm+50 report.
Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/bbZEpEspvty3E6ACA
Minh Thao – UNDP Viet Nam
[1]: https://www.un.org/en/observances/earth-day
[2]: Earth Day 2022 | Invest in Our Planet™
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