World Environment Day on June 5: Become an Earth Warrior

Where: Worldwide

June 4, 2009 : World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The guiding principle is that people have to take responsibility for the environment. The earth’s rain forests are disappearing, chemicals have poisoned our air, marine life is dying in our polluted seas, and harmful waste and toxins have reached even the least populated corners of the globe. The wake up call for earth’s citizens for 2009 is “Your Planet Needs You — UNite to Combat Climate Change”.

Mexico is to play host to the program this year. As part of the “Billion Tree Campaign” being planned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mexico plans to plant at least 25 per cent of the seven billion trees which make up the target. Also this year, a plan called “Climate Heroes” will be launched. The Climate Heroes are individuals who will take up projects and lead the way to reduce our carbon footprint, to fight waste and to recycle, and highlight the importance of planting trees.

India’s national daily, The Hindu, suggests some things that young people can do to save the earth. These include using water sparingly, turning off all unnecessary lights, saying ‘no’ to plastic, using cloth bags for shopping, saving paper, and making an effort to plant at least one tree. It also helps to use public transport, and to walk or to ride a bicycle over short distances.

Websites to visit:

for community activities:
UNEP: Community Activities

And to read about the Climate Heroes:

http://www.rozsavage.com
http://www.japanbikeride.com
http://www.theplastiki.com
http://www.projectkaisei.org

264 words | 3 minutes
Readability: Grade 7 (12-13 year old children)
Based on Flesch–Kincaid readability scores

Filed under: world news
Tags: #trees, #environment, #climate, #heroes, #mexico, #nations, #waste

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