By Charlotte Peterson
April 22nd was never a holiday for me, and I never quite recognized what was being celebrated until I turned about 10 years old; it was then I realized not only the constant damage and harm our animals, ecosystems, and planet face daily, but also the call to action I felt to help prevent these events from occurring. On April 22 of 1970, the world was changed when Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day, giving people a holiday to cherish and celebrate the beauty on our planet and consider ways that we can help it. In my recent teenage years, Earth Day has felt especially important to me, and each year I reflect on how I am able to improve the state of the planet even slightly more.
As I have reached further in the education system, my perspective of the holiday has shifted less from a celebration and more to a reminder. From having class get cancelled due to air quality, to being a first hand witness of the effects of climate change, each day I am reminded of the serious consequences our planet could have if we do not act soon. Earth Day is a great calendar reminder for people globally on why these issues need to be acted on quickly.
Celebrating Earth Day has allowed me to remain aware about the constant issues environmentally occurring while also giving me the motivation to share these issues with my peers. My passion for the environment urged me to create a school-wide thrift club where students are able to engage in clothing swaps while being presented information about pollutants including, but not limited to, textiles. Through creating this club, I have noticed myself being even more environmentally cautious in my daily actions, such as taking shorter showers and choosing organic products. While the holiday is a time to soak in the beauty this planet offers us, it is also the time to consider what is happening to it and reevaluate our own choices and how we are able to improve our lifestyles to help the planet. In my recent visit to Yosemite National Park, I was so stunned and emotionally moved by the beauty the world offers us that I was encouraged to return back to a vegetarian diet after nearly 4 years of being carnivorous.
This upcoming Earth Day, I hope to continue increasing my sustainable practices and motivating not only my generation, but also the generations above and below mine to emphasize the importance of protecting our planet. Seeing efforts made daily through my school and community such as the Beach Clean-Up Club, Recycling Programs, and an increase in vegan and vegetarian options at local restaurants, allows me to feel hope for the future of the planet rather than despair and fear. Earth Day is a celebration of beauty, a reminder that small change does matter, and a call to action to make these changes happen, inspiring many to continue these practices even after April 22nd passes.
All photos by Charlotte Peterson