International Mother Earth Day: Time to end plastic pollution

Ranjan K Baruah *

Blue and Green for Organic Manipur - Awareness programme on Plastic pollution in Sep 2010 :: Pix - Deepak Shijagurumayum

All of us are concerned about the mother earth but very less take action for the same. We have already seen the impacts of climate change and other environmental degradation. People are living but we may not imagine what we are doing actually.

It is not only human being but other living organisms are equally important in this planet. Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.

The Earth and its ecosystems are our home. In order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth. One of the day events for mother earth was started few decades back which has become one of the big environmental movements now. International Mother Earth Day is celebrated to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.

This day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports. The United Nations General Assembly, in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth, and noting that Earth Day is observed each year in many countries, decided to designate 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through resolution A/RES/63/278, adopted in 2009.

In 2005, the UN General Assembly declared 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth, convinced that education in Earth sciences provide humankind with tools for the sustainable use of natural resources and for building the scientific infrastructure essential for sustainable development.

This year’s focus on the occasion is to end plastic pollution. We are aware that plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health directly or indirectly. From poisoning and injuring marine life to the ubiquitous presence of plastics in our food to disrupting human hormones and causing major life-threatening diseases and early puberty, the exponential growth of plastics is threatening our planet’s survival.

Earth Day Network ( EDN) , the organization that leads Earth Day worldwide on April 22, announced that Earth Day 2018 will focus on mobilizing the world to End Plastic Pollution, including creating support for a global effort to eliminate single use plastics along with uniform regulation for the disposal of plastics.

EDN will educate millions of people about the health and other risks associated with the use and disposal of plastics, including pollution of our oceans, water, and wildlife, and about the growing body of evidence that decomposing plastics are creating serious global health problems.

“There is a growing tidal wave of interest in ending plastic pollution and some countries and governments are already in the vanguard. Earth Day Network believes we can turn that tidal wave into a permanent solution to plastics pollution,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of EDN. Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.

Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 50,000 partners in nearly 195 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. We work through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.

We have already seen the impacts of plastics pollution and it is time to bring an end to this problem else we are bringing more problems for ourselves.

Plastic pollution has been a hazard for the environment but we need to have more innovation and sustainable consumption pattern to fight this problem. We may not be too honest and say that we shall end use of plastic or end plastic pollution but let us try our level best and try to take few steps for our mother earth because we do not have any other home to live in.