Earth Day: Why is it important and since when is it commemorated?

51 years ago, a citizen movement was born in the United States that gave rise to what we now know as Earth Day. In 1970, nearly 20 million people took to the streets of the U.S. to protest oil spills and river pollution. That is why, from that moment on, every April 22nd, the world is reminded of how important it is to take care of the environment, preserve the ecosystem, and promote actions that benefit the planet.

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According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), every four months a new infectious disease appears in humans and 75% come from animals. This would demonstrate the “close relationships between human, animal, and environmental health.” In the world live more than 7 billion 700 million people and both their health and that of the planet depend on the environment. That’s why the UN says: “Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction.” Precisely, the UN decided in 2009 to officially decree the commemoration of Earth Day every April 22nd. You can celebrate this date by cleaning a forest or a beach, or simply educating the little ones so they learn to care for and respect nature.