Environment Day
Tuesday 2 June 2009
It’s nearly World Environment Day! Find out what people are doing to help out.
World Environment Day
Every year on 5th June, people from around the world gather together for World Environment Day (WED). It's an event that creates both public and political awareness for different environmental issues like climate change, waste, sustainability and recycling.
This year the theme is ‘Your Plant Needs You-Unite To Combat Climate Change.’ The aim is to encourage different nations to agree on laws and regulations that create positive changes to the environment and poverty.
Environmental heroes
Different people are supporting WED from all over the world. Here’s how:-
United Kingdom
People from North East Lincolnshire are submitting poems, drawings and paintings for an art competition that raises awareness for the environment. Find out more.
Workers at Arndale shopping centre in Manchester will be walking or cycling to work and switching off all appliances when they’re not using them. Plus, co-workers have agreed to share newspapers and use bags for life when they do their own shopping.
Students at Royal Northern College of Music will also be holding a day of events.
Australia
PowerShift 2009 is Australia’s first national youth climate summit. Equipped with mobile phones, laptops and Twitter accounts, PowerShift 2009 will be contacting other young people who’ve signed up to the summit.
Nepal
The Nepalese Youth For Climate Action (NYCA) brings together different youth groups, and this year they're organising a football match. The players include celebrities, entrepreneurs and environmentalists who all have one thing in common - raising environmental awareness.
Mauritius
Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a professional artist and photographer. He’s most known for his ‘Earth Seen From Above’ series which exhibits bird’s eye view pictures of the environment.
In the run up to WED, he has been directing a film called ‘Home’, and on 5th June it will premiere in Mauritius. The film focuses on issues such as the impacts of our every day actions on the environment, and how people need to act now.
Scouts around the world
The Scouts is an organisation that aims to educate young people so that they can fulfil their potential. Read about the Scout Promise and Law.
On 5th June, the Scouts will be taking part in WED's ‘Plant For The Planet: Billion Tree’ campaign . The original aim was to plant one billion trees by the end of the year, but the target has now increased to seven billion - one tree for every person on the planet.
The Scouts aim to plant at least 65,000 trees in 10 different countries including Mexico, The Philippines, India, Australia and Hungary.
How to help
You can support WED by doing some very simple tasks. When you’re at home make sure the tap isn’t running whilst you're washing your face or brushing your teeth. Use re-useable containers when packing your lunch. And don’t forget to turn off all the lights and appliances when you go out. Get more tips here.
If you're running an event to support WED, then you can register it on the site. Find out more.
Also, if you follow WED's Twitter account between now and 5th June, a tree will be planted just for you. You haven’t got long!
