April 22nd, 2005 is the 35th Anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day, which began in 1970, is now celebrated by millions of people worldwide. This year is its 35th anniversary, and around the world, hundreds of thousands of nongovernmental organizations, governments, teachers, and faith-based groups, among others, are making plans to declare that they are part of something extraordinary: a worldwide movement to protect our planet, our children, and our future.
This year, Earth Day Network’s theme is “Protect Our Children and Our Future.”
Despite the extraordinary and often false obstacles that we face in our efforts to protect our natural resources and our biodiversity, few will dare argue with the moral imperative to protect our children from harm. As a consequence of that imperative, we call on governments, corporations, faith-based organizations, and all people in our troubled world to work with us to ensure that children everywhere are healthy, educated, and free from oppression.
This Earth Day, hundreds of major events will take place around the world, in communities large and small, in classrooms, in parks and on beaches, in places of worship. From Kiev to Beijing, from India to Romania, from Africa to the Americas, we will demonstrate our diversity and our resilience. We look forward to your participation and working with you to make this Earth Day the beginning of a global effort to protect our children’s future.
About Earth Day Network
Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide. Our mission is to build broad-based citizen support for sound, workable and effective environmental and sustainable development policies for all.
Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN’s international network reaches over 12,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program keeps over 3,000 groups and over 100,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year. As a result, Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a half billion people participate in our campaigns every year.
Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden the environmental movement worldwide and to educate and mobilize people, governments, and corporations to take responsibility for a clean and healthy environment.
Earth Day Network’s programs and activities are guided by the following goals:
Promote Civic Engagement
Earth Day Network works with partner organizations to provide opportunities for all citizens to become active at the local, state, national and global levels.
Broaden the Meaning of “Environmentâ€
Earth Day Network is committed to expanding the definition of “environment†to include all issues that affect our health, our communities and our environment, such as air and water pollution, deteriorating schools, public transportation and access to jobs, rising rates of asthma and cancer, and lack of funding for parks and recreation.
Mobilize Communities
Earth Day Network and our Campaign for Communities partners registered and turned out one million new and infrequent voters in the 2004 presidential election, focusing on young people, and African-American, Latino and low-income communities, where voter turnout is generally low.
Create Groundbreaking Environmental Education Programs
Earth Day Network uses innovative education tools and community projects to promote civic participation and develop a sense of environmental responsibility among young people.
Train New Environmental Leaders
Earth Day Network’s programs and activities inform and inspire young people and people of color to become environmental leaders.
Build International Partnerships that Strengthen Cooperation Among Diverse Groups
Earth Day Network affects environmental change through the development of new, cooperative relationships among organizations that are not traditional allies.
Engage Corporations in Support of Environmental Programs
Earth Day Network continues to work with select corporations to promote sustainable business practices.
Support Earth Day Celebrations Around the World
Earth Day, April 22, is the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a half billion people every year.
Get Involved
Here at Earth Day Network, every day is Earth Day. Earth Day Network’s staff and partners support environmental education and civic participation year round through a variety of innovative programs, activities and resources. Each year, we also provide support and resources to thousands of organizations planning Earth Day events and activities.
Visit the Earth Day Network website at: www.earthday.org
Make a Donation to Support Earth Day Network’s Programs and Activities
When you Donate to Earth Day Network you will have the satisfaction of helping more than 100,000 educators teach their students about the environment or supporting Earth Day events in 174 countries or empowering more than 12,000 grassroots organizations as they fight for cleaner, safer and healthier communities.