This year will mark the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the largest, most widely celebrated international environmental event. It will be held on Sunday, April 22, designated “International Mother Earth Day” in 2009 by the United Nations, and is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.

Earth Day 2012 will draw more than one billion people around the world to show their appreciation for the planet and speak out for its protection. Together people from all nationalities and backgrounds will stand united for a sustainable future and call on organizations, individuals and governments to do their part to make this happen.

The first Earth Day was declared by the city of San Francisco and was celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring. Around the same time, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired to found another Earth Day that would be used as a “national teach-in on the environment.” He declared April 22, 1970 as Earth Day in the United States. By 1990, Earth Day was an international celebration with organized events in 141 nations. Today, Earth Day is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.

In addition to our usual eco-friendly practices, here are some things we will do in the office to celebrate:

• Use Blackle – when searching things on the Internet we will use this as an alternative to Google. It is powered by Google, so you will get the same searches, but it uses a black main screen instead of a white one, which strays away from the harmful effects of greenhouse gases.
• Turn things off at the power point while not in use — this will help to save money and electricity
• Carpool, ride a bike or walk to work
• Use clean air conditioner filters to ensure our unit is running at maximum efficiency
• Turn air conditioning to a higher degree
• Sustain from eating meat to protest the damages the meat industry causes the environment
• Get products such as coffee and paper from the “Rainforest Alliance Certified” list — we know these goods are produced sustainably and the services are conducted in the same way. Most of these products are found in local grocery stores.

This website tells you certified products that are produced sustainably: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/green-living/marketplace

How you can celebrate:
You can demand change by attending a local Earth Day event or joining an Earth Day campaign to collect “A Billion Acts of Green” and increase the importance of environmental issues around the globe. Research festivals near you or do simple things to live life more “green.” Join a rally, plant a tree, hold a themed party, host or go to a parade or even participate in demonstrations. The main purpose of Earth Day is to bring awareness and action, so just get out there and become more involved and conscious of the environment.

Here is a website that lists 22 eco-friendly things you can do on Earth Day:  http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/daily-green-tips/things-earth/

Join the Nature Conservancy with their “Picnic for the Planet” campaign:  http://www.nature.org/earthday/index.htm

Follow the Earth Day Network and see what events are happening around the world:  http://www.earthday.org/blog/2012/03/20/where-world-earth-day

Find local events here:  http://act.earthday.org/events/search/distance/32653

For more information on Earth Day, visit the official website at:  www.earthday.org

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Entries close at 11:59p.m. on April 19, 2012.