Today, Intermational Mother Earth Day is being celebrated around the world. Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet. For instance, Bolivians call Mother Earth Pachamama and Nicaraguans refer to her as Tonantzin.
Earth Day 2011 will be organised under the slogan “A Billion Acts of Green.” The aim is to emphasise the importance of personal contribution by every inhabitant of the Earth, as well as organisations, companies and governments in achieving a common goal – sustainable living and development. ‘A Billion Acts of Green’ is the largest ever organised campaign dedicated to environmental protection, the goal of which is to register one billion so called small actions, such as tree planting, replacement of obsolete mercury bulbs with new, energy-efficient light bulbs, promoting the use of bicycles and other transport modes alternative to car use, holding meetings devoted to this issue etc. before the UN Earth Summit in Rio in 2012. Over 45 million so called “small” actions have been recorded so far, as well as activities and events on a far larger scale, supported by individual governments, non-governmental organizations and sponsors.
The proclamation of 22 April as International Mother Earth Day is an acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems provide its inhabitants with life and sustenance. It also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.
In 2009, the United Nations Assembly proclaimed 22 April as International Mother Earth Day, expressing its conviction that, to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, “it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth.” It is now celebrated in around 175 countries areound the world.
International Mother Earth Day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.