Coming together to protect our common Home
“The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change…. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.” (Laudato Si, 13)
We’ve all probably heard about Earth Day but very few of us are really aware of the story behind this particular day and its importance.
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day events take place today in more than 193 countries.
Catholic social teaching strongly encourages us to care for our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. Unfortunately, these are the ones who are most affected by the environmental crisis, although they have no part in causing it.
The importance of taking climate change seriously was emphasized in the recent papal teachings beginning from Pope John Paul II and in Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, it has reached a climax.
Let us hear and act on the urgent, continuous call for each one of us, to take care of our common Home for we are part of her, belong to her and receive life from her.
A brief history of the birth of Earth Day
Each year, Earth Day - April 22 - marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda.
Thus began an effort towards creating public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment, and links between pollution and public health.
Today, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day.
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day.