How To Participate In Earth Day 2023
May 18, 2023
Earth Day is this Saturday, April 22nd, and there are plenty of ways to get involved as a Questrom student, or a BU community member! This year, the Earth Day theme is “Invest In Our Planet” which highlights the need for time, energy, and resources spent on solving climate change, and environmental disasters. “To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it,” says Robin Wall Kimmerer in Braiding Sweetgrass. Here’s how you can invest your time healing the Earth this Earth Day, 2023.
Earth Day Origins
Earth Day was established in 1970 by US Congressman, and environmental advocate Gaylord Nelson after he witnessed the Santa Barbara oil spill and was inspired to initiate college teach-ins on environmental issues. The idea turned into Earth Day and was quickly adopted on a national scale. Over the decades, Earth Day has attracted activists in 193 countries.
The 24th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup
The Annual Charles River cleanup is happening this Friday, the 21st to Saturday, the 22nd. As part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup®, this event has removed over 25 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways to date.
While event registration fills up quickly, you can still spend time cleaning up litter in and around Boston. Learn more at thecharles.org.
Earth Day Celebration by Pier 5 Association
This free event by Pier 5 Association is fun for all ages and seeks to bring communities together to learn about environmental issues, such as climate change and its effects on weather patterns resulting in a higher frequency of severe storms and natural disasters. Refreshments, games, and activities are all part of the fun on April 22nd, on the Harborwalk, Charlestown Navy Yard. You can learn more about it at pier5.org.
Pick Up Trash in Your Neighborhood
MassDOT recently reported an average of 90,000 bags of trash collected along highways within three years. Apart from volunteers, MassDOT employees, and prison inmates working to remove litter, very little funds are dedicated to litter prevention in Massachusetts. Even if it’s just for an hour, spend time in your neighborhood with a pair of gloves and a trash bag. You’ll be surprised how quickly the bag fills up!
Shred + Recycle event hosted by BU Sustainability and BU IS&T
In partnership with BU Sustainability, BU Information Security is hosting the Spring Shred + Recycle event from Tuesday, April 25th to Thursday, April 27th. All are welcome to safely, and responsibly dispose of any documents, batteries, lightbulbs, toner, cords, and electronics. This year, you can now recycle textiles, books, and film plastics! Check out more details at the event home page.
Eat Plant-Based for the Day
When you choose ingredients that avoid using animal products, you’re voting with your dollar. Animal farming is a major contributor of environmental burdens that threaten the future of the Earth. The by-products are greenhouse gases, land degradation, nutrient pollution, and excessive water use. (Frontiersin.org.) Try using beans, lentils, tofu, or seitan in your dishes!
If you’re still looking for more options, here are 52 actions and tips to make a difference, cultivated by Earthday.org.
