International Mother Earth Day

Vinod C Dixit

(dixitpatrakar@yahoo.in)

On 22nd of April is celebrated as Earth Day. Various events were held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day gives every inhabitant in all the populated corners of the world the opportunity to express thanks to planet Earth. The resolution was adopted to reaffirm the agenda of sustainable development and also to acknowledge the role of the earth as a mother, who sustains and nurtures all the species, including humans, animals and plants. Earth is the only planet in the universe, where life originated. We can certainly say that Earth is our mother and we are her children. She gave us food, water and shelter. Many countries have been celebrating "Earth Day" since 1970, decades before the introduction of "International Mother Earth Day". "International Mother Earth Day" is aimed at sharing responsibilities and setting agendas for peaceful coexistence with nature. The initiative to celebrate Earth Day was taken by Gaylord Nelson – the senator of California in 1969.

Our country fares rather poorly when it comes to air pollution. According to a recent report by Greenpeace India, air pollution alone is responsible for about 1.2 million deaths in the country each year. Earth Day gives an opportunity for every citizen in the whole world to make some useful things for our great planet. Every year scientists from all over the world gather on this day with the aim to discuss global ecological problems and offer the ways of their solutions. The term "Mother Earth" implies the interdependent relationship which exists between all the species of planet earth and to acknowledge earth's role in sustaining them all. Increasing instances of drought and groundwater depletion are the result of climate change. We rage when we hear of farmer suicides in the country but have we done our bit to reverse the damaging effects of global warming? Our actions must reflect our concern for the survival of the human race. India is one of the worst affected when it comes to groundwater depletion.

The ecology of the Earth suffers stronger and stronger every day. A huge problem on Earth is the cluttering of the soil covered with household and industrial wastes, heaps and garbage dumps, heaps of chemical, construction, and household waste scattered in forest tracts, along roadsides, in ditches. The volume of waste is steadily growing. They are not processed but are exported to landfills. Increasing industrialization on daily basis leads to deforestation which ultimately leads to the rise in Earth's temperature. These are the life-ending dangers on the earth forever which can be lessened through the small steps such as new trees plantation, inhibiting the deforestation, limiting the vehicle used to reduce air pollution, enhancing the energy conservation by reducing the unnecessary use of electricity. Such small steps can become a big steps if taken care of by the people worldwide. Waste management is another damaging battle that India is currently fighting. The lack of adequate waste separation, processing and composting facilities in rural and urban areas alike is the main cause of the decline in health and hygiene in the country.

Our Earth is the only planet in the universe where life is possible to date. It is very necessary to maintain the natural assets of the earth in order to continue life on the earth. In the rush of the crowd, the most intelligent creature of the God called human is slowly losing its humanity and forgot to take care of the planet that gave it life and started using its resources very ruthlessly. Earth Day, then, is more of a call for action than a celebration.

It is not all lost in this world, because humanity is still taking care of the planet, establishing Earth Day. Let us make efforts to care for the planet not only once a year, but also every day. Franklin D. Roosevelt has rightly quoted that "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."