The Earth needs healing.
This does not only pertain to the current situation we’re in — a global fight against an invisible virus as the world must likewise be assuaged from the threat of climate change and environmental destruction.
And this will never materialize with the efforts of the few.
Thankfully, an amalgam of like-minded institutions, governments and private individuals with a love for our planet have banded together for decades to voice out environmental concerns, show support for the protection of the earth’s species, and inform the public about the state of our planet.
It’s understandable that we pick our battles with a pandemic in mind. The life and health of the populace can never be overlooked, but looking at the bigger picture, we only have one home, and we live only on one planet.
It may be a stretch for some, but the lockdowns and quarantine life that came as a result of drastic measures to help quell COVID-19 infections may have been a tap on the back for us to trace our roots.
For those who can, it was a realization for us to take a step back and look at the price of progress— a wake-up call to respect the boundaries of nature and keep ourselves and the Earth we call home healthy.
As the world returns to normal, we can’t go back to business-as-usual.
This is the theme for Earth Day 2021, and the words above could never ring truer than ever.
For three days, world leaders will spearhead the call to #RestoreOurEarth. From April 20 to 22, join in the global movement to help prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction.
Here is the plan of events (from www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021):
THE PLAN: THREE DAYS OF CLIMATE ACTION
APRIL 20
The celebrations begin a global youth climate summit consisting of panels, speeches, discussions and special messages with today’s youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor and Licypriya Kangujam.
APRIL 21
In the second day of Earth Day 2021, Education International will lead the “Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit.” This will be a multilingual virtual summit, is focused on the crucial role that educators play in combating climate change.
APRIL 22
According to the organizers, “Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will focus on Restore Our Earth™ — we’ll cover natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.”
More topics will include:
Climate and environmental literacy
Climate restoration technologies
Reforestation efforts
Regenerative agriculture
Equity and environmental justice
Citizen science
Cleanups, and more.
World climate leaders, grassroots activists, nonprofit innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, artists, musicians, influencers, and the leaders of tomorrow will come to push us towards a better world.
In the Philippines, Earth Day 2021 will be celebrated virtually with a series of webinars organized by the Climate Change Commission, Department of Finance, DepEd Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, among other private institutions and government agencies.
Entitled "PINASiglang Mundo,” the webcast aims to “rethink our development approaches and adopt sustainability principles in our national strategies and plans has never been more urgent.“
EARTH DAY 2021 WEBCAST – "PINASiglang Mundo"
“As we continue to battle the pandemic, the need to rethink our development approaches and adopt sustainability principles in our national strategies and plans has never been more urgent. Nature and human technologies already offer solutions, but we need to exhibit the will and ensure that we safeguard our planet for future generations. “
The Earth Day Webcast is organized by the Climate Change Commission, Department of Finance, DepEd Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Loren Legarda, and The Climate Reality Project Philippines, and in collaboration with the Break Free from Plastic Philippines coalition, DTI Philippines, DILG Philippines, Local Government Academy, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and British Embassy Manila, League of Cities of the Philippines, and the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc.
Upcoming webcast:
Philippine Earth Day 2021
22 April 2021 8am-5pm
