Natur&ëmwelt Experts Discuss Earth Day

In the latest in a series of articles about current conservation issues, experts at natur&ëmwelt, a leading nature conservation NGO in Luxembourg, spoke to Chronicle.lu about Earth Day.

Natur&ëmwelt volunteer Claire Schroeder helped collect the relevant information from the NGO for this article.

Chronicle.lu: First things first, what is Earth Day?

Natur&ëmwelt: Earth Day is an annual event held every year on 22 April since 1970. This day is celebrated by 192 countries and over one billion people worldwide and is dedicated to appreciating our natural environment, reflecting on our practices and impact on the planet and fighting for a better future. This year's theme is "Planet vs. Plastics". As a part of their commitment to demanding a reduction of 60% in the production of all plastics by 2040, organisers of earthday.org are using this year’s theme to spread knowledge on the health risks of plastics and their impact on the environment.

Chronicle.lu: Did we not already mark a similar event in February?

Natur&ëmwelt: Not quite the same thing! 20 February this year marked Luxembourg’s Earth Overshoot Day. Meaning, if everyone on Earth lived like the average Luxembourg resident, we would have used up the planet’s yearly resources by 20 February. Effectively implying that the rest of the year would be spent on borrowed resources. This is, of course, a terrible record but also hopefully a provocative reminder of why the focuses and values of Earth Day are so important.

Chronicle.lu: How did we get here?

Natur&ëmwelt: Unfortunately, things often get worse before they get better. In 1969, an oil well about 10 km off the coast of Santa Barbara, California blew out in what is now referred to as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Over eleven million litres of oil spilled into the ocean killing over an estimated 10,000 sea animals. This event mobilised many activists to create environmental regulations and education opportunities, one of which being Earth Day. On the one-year anniversary of the spill, in 1970, the Declaration of Environmental Rights was read, sparking a movement “deeply passionate about environmental issues” (- D. Hayes). Conservationist and Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes are considered the founders of the event, riding this activist wave to garner campus teach-ins - the ancestor of the modern Earth Day.

Chronicle.lu: Why "Planet vs. Plastics"?

Natur&ëmwelt: Plastics are as dangerous for human health as they are for our planet’s health. As plastics break down into microplastics, they get into our food sources, our water streams, and even into the air we breathe. Although you might feel good about the reusable water bottle you carry around (which is great - don’t get us wrong), more plastic has been produced in the last ten years than in the entirety of the 20th century. And this production of the petrochemical industry is hugely toxic for our environment. From plastic bags and food containers, to the fast fashion industry - all of these products have hugely damaging production processes, short life-spans and practically never-ending afterlives.

Chronicle.lu: How can one help?

Natur&ëmwelt: Knowledge is power - and earthday.org is a bottomless treasure trove of education. Whether you just want to learn or can donate some time and/or money, there are many initiatives to discover and take part in. Take this day as an excuse to write open letters, sign petitions, bombard your friends on social media, get your voice heard by those who can make a difference - there is power in numbers!

Chronicle.lu: Is there anything one can do close to home?

Natur&ëmwelt: Definitely! You can organise your own Earth Day event and register it on the website for others to join. This could be a conference, a clean-up, a discussion, anything really - the more the merrier! If organising an event doesn’t tickle your fancy, join us at the Marche pour la Terre [March for Earth] from 17:30 on 22 April at Luxembourg Gare to aid in giving our Earth the voice it deserves!

For more ideas on how to get invovled, visit the official Earth Day website.