This is how Google celebrates Earth Day

You probably noticed that Google shows some impressive images in its Google Doodle this Monday. They are about Aereal images from different regions of the planet in commemoration of Earth Day, which is celebrated every April 22.

The photos that head its home page perfectly spell the name of the site, Google, with natural areas around the world:

• G: Turks and Caicos Islands
• Or: the Alacranes Reef in Mexico
• Or: Vatnajökull Park in Iceland
• G: Jaú Park in Brazil
• L: the Great Green Wall in Nigeria
• E: the Pilbara Islands Nature Reserves in Australia.

The intention of these images is not only to highlight the beauty and biodiversity of our planet, but also to highlight the importance of protecting it for future generations, as well as raising awareness about the progress of climate change.

Below we present information about this celebratory day and why it is so important.

What is celebrated on April 22?

Every year, April 22 is commemorated as Earth Day to honor and celebrate our planet and remember the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. Although it is not a federally recognized holiday, it is an occasion that has been repeated annually for more than 50 years.

What is the origin of Earth Day?

The first Earth Day took place in 1970, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to protect the environment and public health and in response to the growing demand for water. clean air and land. Support for these causes joined the student movement of that decade that opposed the Vietnam War and objected to environmental degradation, according to the Library of Congress (only in English).

That first year, about 20 million people attended events at thousands of sites in local communities across the United States to celebrate the earth. By the 1990s, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in the holiday. According to the site dedicated to this celebration, earthday.orgToday, more than 1 billion people mobilize each year to observe this day and take steps to protect the planet.

Progress against climate change

Humanity has already scored some surprising triumphs when it comes to other big, seemingly intractable environmental problems. These are three examples (only in English):

Bald eagles are no longer endangered: DDT, a pesticide originally considered a miracle in fighting mosquitoes and other vermin, was first introduced in the 1940s. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that scientists made the connection between the decrease in bird populations and this new pesticide. DDT thinned egg shells so that nesting mothers crushed their own babies, pushing many species, including the bald eagle, to the brink of extinction. DDT was banned in 1972, and by 2007 bald eagles had made such a comeback that they were removed from the endangered species list.

The ozone layer is repaired: Or look at the sky and reflect on the ozone layer that protects us from ultraviolet radiation. In the early 1980s, scientists first saw that a hole had developed in that critically protective layer of the atmosphere. Without the cape, the fields would burn and it would be impossible to survive outdoors. Despite the costs and immensity of the problem, nations around the world signed the Montreal Protocol, phasing out the chlorofluorocarbons that caused the hole. Today, ozone is being repaired and is expected to return to 1980 levels by 2060.

Acid rain levels fall: Acid rain is the byproduct of burning sulfur-containing coal. Starting in the 1950s, it wiped out forests and life in lakes and streams in large areas of the northeast, and public awareness of its dangers increased in the 1970s. The Clean Air Act of 1990 helped limit sulfur emissions and levels began to fall.

What is the theme of Earth Day 2024?

This year’s theme for this celebration focuses on microplastics. According earthday.org, the site dedicated to this date, there is research that has discovered that the plastics we use in many areas of our lives break down into small fragments called microplastics that release toxic chemicals. We consume these microplastics and the substances they release in the water we drink and are associated with many health problems, including Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, infertility and cancer.

How is Earth Day celebrated in 2024?

Given the particular focus on plastics this year, earthyday.org suggests paying greater attention to this problem and contributing to the goal of reducing plastic use by 60% by 2040. According to the site, more than 500 billion plastic bags and 100 billion plastic beverage containers will be produced and used in 2023.

There are several ways to participate in the celebration for the Earth on this day. Some ideas according to almanac (English only) include:

• Reuse, recycle or return used plastics, turning them into containers or pots so as not to dispose of them in the trash, causing more pollution.
• Go for a walk with a garbage bag and pick up the trash you find on the streets and drains.
• Spend time outdoors and enjoy a natural or green space by taking a walk with family or friends or visiting a park.
• Plant a tree or a seed for a native plant in your area that is beneficial for pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies or hummingbirds.

The Phoenix Zoo will host an event on Saturday, 27, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm about plastic pollution where they will talk about what can be done to counter the problem. For more information about the event and activities visit the website.

USA Today reporter Elizabeth Weise contributed to this article.

Contact reporter Silvia Solis by email [email protected].