The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) joins in solidarity with its global affiliates and membership, other organizations, institutions, agencies, and individuals globally in supporting the international awareness of Earth Day and its 2024 campaign “PLANET vs PLASTICS”.
Today (April 22) is Earth Day, an international event celebrated around the world to pledge support for environmental protection. The year 2024 marks the 54th anniversary of the annual celebrations. This year’s theme for Earth Day 2024 is “PLANET vs PLASTICS”, highlighting the fact “that 380 million tonnes of plastic are now produced every year – while only 9 per cent of plastic ever produced has been recycled”. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’. Earth Day was first observed in 1970, when 20 million took to the streets to protest against environmental degradation. The event was triggered by the 1969 Santa Barbara, California oil spill, as well as other issues such as smog and polluted rivers.
For over the next half century, Earth Day continued to play an important role in environmental activism. The landmark Paris Agreement, which brings almost 200 countries together in setting a common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth Day 2016. But, sadly, global compliance has fallen short.
“Now plastics do more than surround us; we have become the product itself – it flows through our blood stream, adheres to our internal organs, and carries with it heavy metals known to cause cancer and disease. Now this once-thought amazing and useful product has become something else, and our health and that of all other living creatures hangs in the balance,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG. “The Planet vs Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet”