Every year on Apr. 22, countries across the world shine a light on one global issue: protecting the environment. Earth Day is celebrated in order to raise awareness of environmental problems and find solutions. 

Before this year, I never realized the impact of Earth Day on society. It slowly stopped becoming a big deal as I got older. In high school, a group of science teachers got together to put recycling bins around campus and in celebration of Earth Day, they sold cool black and green T-shirts. Now I could be wrong, but I’d be willing to bet that most of the people who got the shirts just didn’t want to wear a uniform that day. Before that, I only remember my elementary school teachers forcing us to play Earth Day themed games and coloring globes. 

The point is, Earth Day was always pretty much forced upon me for a grade, or it was a distant memory. I never knew how important it was and I honestly didn’t care.

Meanwhile the rest of the world was becoming more aware of environmental problems. People began to become more ‘green.’ People, including me, were purchasing those swirly white bulbs, officially known as the compact fluorescent light bulb. It became a good idea to use public transportation, carpool, solar cars and purchase solar roofs to save energy. People wanted to stop pollution because of a little issue you may have heard about before called climate change. Littering also became a bigger deal, so states raised the level of consequence on those caught committing this heinous act.

I know what you’re thinking, who’s to blame here? Everyone is probably to blame. According to earthobservatory.nasa.gov, “Global warming will continue to cause warmer days, rising sea levels and will impact ecosystems and humans. The ways and times that food is grown will possibly directly affect the shelters and nutrient intakes of humans, animals and plants.”

As humans, we have a moral and physical obligation to protect the world that we live in, starting with Earth Day. All of us must help, collectively, not just the ‘tree huggers.’ 

We only have one Earth and once it’s gone, there will be no bringing it back. So if you don’t want to be haunted by the constant fear of your world being slowly destroyed before your very own eyes, do at least one thing in your lifetime to help save the environment.