Earth Day 2010

Today the Earth Day Movement celebrates its 40th Anniversary. In fact the first Earth Day took place on 22nd of April back in the year 1970. That day US senator Gaylord Nelson managed to mobilize 20 million of Americans for a giant demonstration in favor of our environment.

Since then, the Earth Day became an year by year institution which takes place each year on April 22 in virtually every country on Earth, and also gave birth to the Earth Day Network, which was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The movement has the mission to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. Today Earth Day Network has a global reach with more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

For further informations visit www.earthday.org. GET INVOLVED!

Earth Hour 2010

Check out the highlights video of Earth Hour 2010 global initiative, organized by WWF, which took place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time):

The Earth Hour project is "a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet."

10 Important ways to save energy & fight global warming

1. Use energy-efficient appliances, such as energy-saving lightbulbs;
2. Switch to an electricity provider that offers electricity derived from renewable sources;
3. Ride a bicycle for distances under e.g. 10km. Consider a bus or train for longer distances;
4. Lower your thermostat by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius during the night and when nobody's home;
5. Make sure your home is well insulated;
6. Completely switch-off appliances that you do not use;
7. Consider going to your holiday destination by bus or train, instead of car or airplane;
8. If possible, work at home instead of an office location;
9. Support forestation programs that focus on planting indigenous trees in tropical regions; and
10. Educate others. Tell people of the importance of an energy-efficient lifestyle.