Erin FoxCelebrate World Environment Day (WED) on June 5
World Environment Day (WED) is next week on June 5. WED has been celebrated since 1972 and is used by the United Nations to encourage worldwide awareness of environmental issues. It began as a day for everyone to come together and help to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.It is also celebrated as People's Day where everyone does something positive for the environment.
WED is an opportunity for everyone to realise their responsibility to care for the Earth and to become agents of change. You can help make a change to the Earth next week by learning more about environmental issues and organising an activity with your family or in school. The WED website has a section where you can upload your activities so make sure you document them to share later. (www.unep.org/wed)
Theme
Every year the theme of WED changes. This year's theme is ‘Small Islands and Climate Change’ and the official slogan is “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Levels”. Many small islands face a number of challenges from waste management to climate change. Due to the increase in global temperature, sea levels are rising and these islands are at risk of being lost. By raising our voices to spread awareness, we can help make a positive change and combat these problems.
There is a variety of activities you can do at home and at school for World Environment Day. In school you can take part in debates about this year’s theme, design a poster for the theme, make origami out of recycled materials, use the recyclables for other art and craft projects, bake biscuits and cakes and decorate and ice them inspired by the theme. Having a sports day draws in numbers. Use this as an opportunity to spread awareness about WED's theme. With your family or classmates, go on a field trip and learn about an ecosystem, organise a clean-up campaign and a recycling drive. At home be vigilant with saving energy and electricity; turn off the lights when leaving a room and take care not to leave any taps running. Whether your contribution to World Environment Day is big or small, it matters and makes a difference.