A new website has been launched to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in Pennsylvania-- Earth Day 50 PA.
The first Earth Day in 1970 enlisted 20 million Americans and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
Earth Day led to the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clear Water, and Endangered Species acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 to sign the Paris climate agreement.
In Pennsylvania, citizens voted to amend the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state’s constitution to say, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come, As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.”
The amendment put protecting environmental rights on the same level as the freedom of speech and religion.
Yet despite the numerous successes surrounding Earth Day, we still face many conservation challenges at home, in our nation, and globally.
Celebrations
Earth Day 50 offers suggestions on ways to mark the occasion (and make a difference) and Pennsylvania's celebration partners have a few ideas of their own.
The first is to host 50 service projects across the state during the month of April.
Keep an eye on the calendar for opportunities to come out and be a steward of your state parks and forests.
Work for a company and want to have a volunteer day? Contact us! Have a youth group you want to engage? Use the sign-up page.
Year Of The Trees
As a special initiative, Earth Day 50 In PA has designated 2020 The Year of the Trees and is encouraging Pennsylvanians to get involved in tree planting initiatives throughout the state.
Don’t know how, visit the Year of the Trees webpage and sign up to learn more!
Conservation Heritage
Other ideas as we start our planning: viewings of documentaries produced in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project at locations around Pennsylvania.
Want to show one of the documentaries? Send an email to Jenna at: jbehringer@paparksandforests.org and she will make it happen for you.
Pair the documentary with a panel or discussion and use the lessons of the past to inform the future.
Education
The organizers of the website would like to work with libraries to feature conservation themed books and speakers during April. Work or volunteer at a library?
Please reach out to see how we might work together. Have a favorite book? Let us know that as we build a reading list for book clubs and individuals. Send an email to: pmetzger@paparksandforests.org.
Curriculum and other materials will be added to the website soon by the Department of Education.
Any way that you can think of to be involved or promote Earth Day in April (and actually all year) is welcome.
The sponsors of the website include PA Parks & Forests Foundation, REI Coop, PA Forestry Association, PA Conservation Heritage Project, Get Outdoors PA, PA Recreation and Parks Society, Keep PA Beautiful, 1% For The Planet, DEP, DCNR and the departments of Health and Education.
Visit the Earth Day 50 PA website for more information.
Related Articles:
[Posted: January 21, 2020] PA Environment Digest
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