Earth Day Challenge Set For This Saturday

Greenrock is part of a collaborative initiative bringing the Earth Day Challenge to Bermuda on April 22.

A spokesperson said, “Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. In the decades leading up to the first Earth Day, people all around the world, primarily in developed nations, were consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles.

“Industries deemed to be progressive and innovative at the time belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of consequences from the law, public scrutiny, or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Until this point, most people remained largely oblivious to environmental concerns and how polluted environments threaten human health.

“By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act.

“A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act and, soon after, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws have protected millions of men, women, and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction.

“For this reason, we see immense value in the acknowledgement of Earth Day annually. Although much progress has been made since its inception 53 years ago, there is still a considerable amount of work left for us all to do. Therefore, we are very proud to announce the fact that this year we are part of a collaborative initiative including eight environmental organizations who have agreed to work together to bring the Earth Day Challenge to our local community and interested people around the world.

“Those organizations are as follows:

• Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce
• Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
• Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute
• Beyond Plastic Bermuda
• Greenrock
• Keep Bermuda Beautiful
• The Bermuda National Trust
• The Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Program

“The Earth Day Challenge is an opportunity for everyone, regardless of age, to engage in some form of environmental action. We took the 2023 Earth Day theme ‘Invest in Your Planet’ and turned it into ‘Invest in Your Parish’ – a new, interactive photo challenge. Now it’s a race to see which parish will commit to the most environmental actions on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23.

“We’ve teamed up with Hink so you can share high-resolution photos of friends, family, and colleagues as they take part in their Earth Day Challenge commitments, from planting trees to cleaning up the coast, from going on a nature walk to using zero emission vehicles. There are 14 total actions – choose one, or challenge yourself to complete them all.

“Which parish will secure the top spot in the 2023 Bermuda Earth Day Challenge? The choice is yours! Sign up today. Then download Hink from the App Store or Google Play and ‘Invest in Your Parish’ in high resolution.

“Members of the participating organizations will assist the winning Parish Council with an environmental initiative or help them solve an environmental challenge in their parish.”

BUEI Programme Educator Joanne Ball-Burgess said, “BUEI stands with Greenrock, BIOS, KBB, BEST, the Bermuda National Trust and all engaged persons and organizations to commemorate Earth Day 2023. It is our vision that the ocean around Bermuda is widely understood, appreciated and protected. As we act to protect the earth, the oceans are also preserved, and as we provide educational opportunities for the members of our community to become conscious of our global environment, the ocean and its marine life can be valued at a deeper level.

“Although Earth Day is officially observed on April 22nd, many schools, organizations, families, and individuals are already taking up the Earth Day Challenge. We stand with you in the hopes that the Earth Day Challenge activities will lead to positive, lasting habits and sustainable actions throughout the year.

“In the lead-up to Earth Day, BUEI has increased its opportunities for creating awareness on the detrimental effects of marine pollution through the Young Reporters for the Environment Journalism Competition. Through photography, article writing and short film submissions, the youth between the ages of 11-25 can advocate for our oceans through this environment-focused journalism programme.

“The submission date will close, one day before Earth Day and the winning submissions will be shared on various communication platforms.

“It is our goal that greening education and environmental awareness spread throughout each socio-economic stratosphere of Bermuda. Through practical engagement and educational programmes implemented at the highest standards that include STEM, Makerspace, Arts-Infused Learning and community-based solutions, it is our hope that Bermuda will consider a more sustainable future for all of us.”

#Greenrock

Category: All, Environment