Word Echoes from SANZ: “World Environment Day”
Written by Helewise Arends on June 4, 2018
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED) is observed on 5 June.
It is an environmental awareness day run by the United Nations (UN)
and is unofficially called “Eco Day” or “Environment Day”.
The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the environment and specific environmental issues.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED) was first established in 1972,
but first held in 1974 with 143 countries taking part in the day
which focuses on environmental concerns ranging from pollution to global warming
& sustainable food production to protection of wildlife.
This year’s focus for WED is “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
Each year a country or nation hosts WED and this year, India is the host.
World Environment Day will take place on 5 June 2018 with #BeatPlasticPollution tag.
It is a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great
environmental challenges of our time.The Theme invites us all to consider
how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution
on our natural places, our wildlife – and our health.
Once again, the biggest global call and mobilisation for action takes place.
World Environment Day is a day for everyone, everywhere.
World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways
activities such as clear-up campaigns are popular and will be prominent this year,
also concerts, conventions and parades, tree planting and lectures (CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS).
The theme for WED 2017, held in Canada, was “Connecting People to Nature”
which implored people to get outdoors and into nature;
to appreciate its beauty and importance and to take forward the call to protect the earth that we share.
Last year’s theme invited us all to think about how we are part of nature
and how intimately we depend on it. It challenged us to find fun and exciting
ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states our resolve
“to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources”.
“On World Environment Day, the message is simple:
Reject single-use plastic
Refuse what you can’t re-use
Together we can chart a path to a cleaner, greener world.”
(Secretary General, Antonio Guterrres)
Be part of the worldwide movement to clean up the planet.
#LETSCLEANUP
#BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION
