Earth Day turns 50
By Canton CitizenDear Editor:
The first Earth Day in 1970 inspired the passage of key environmental legislation, including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force.
This year, in honor of Earth Day, our fight against COVID-19 and the climate crisis are linked; as we work to flatten the pandemic curve, we strive toward our longer term goal of building a just transition to a sustainable, equitable future. On the state level, Earth Day is a time to reinforce to our administration to immediately implement plans to ensure a just transition and job creation by signaling to the green economy that we want to move rapidly from fossil fuels to equitable investment in 100 percent renewable, clean energy.
Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. You can take part through online events and “actionars” on April 22-24 to advance a just transition to a sustainable, equitable future. The tagline and theme of Earth Day 2020 is “Together we can SAVE the earth; Speak up, Act, Vote, Educate.” For more information and to find online events, visit www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020.
Also planned for this year is Earth Day Live — a three-day livestream where millions of people can join activists, celebrities, musicians, and more in an epic moment of community and hope for the future. Day one will focus on amplifying the voice of indigenous leaders and youth climate activists leading the movement to halt the climate crisis. Day two will look at Divestment and Climate Financing led by Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition. Day three will focus on voter registration and political engagement to elect leaders who will address this existential threat. For more information and to RSVP for the livestream, go to www.earthdaylive2020.org/#the-three-days.
Canton Residents for a Sustainable, Equitable Future encourage Canton residents of all ages to take part in Earth Day 2020 events, including a great kids event organized by Erin Connor (contact econnor22@gmail.com). We promote learning about Community Choice Aggregation for Canton and support our neighbors in Weymouth fighting the dangerous, unneeded (as stated by both Columbia Gas and Eversource) Weymouth Compressor Station. #ShutItDown
Jennifer Wexler
President, CR4SEF
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=66340
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Apr 23 2020. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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