Earth Day in the world and in the Philippines
IN the 1970’s, the United States of America was experiencing social upheavals due to the Vietnam War, the race debates and many other social issues. Pollution was also a hot topic especially when the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire. Harnessing the growing social activism of the day, Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called on Americans to come out on April 22 and do something for the environment. Thus, Earth Day was born.
He recalls his motivation for proposing the first nationwide environmental protest: “The objective was to organize a national demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda. It was a gamble, but it worked.”
At the time, Americans were powering their vehicles with leaded gasoline. Growing industries belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the price of prosperity. Earth Day turned all that around.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate on behalf of a healthy, sustainable environment. Denis Hayes, the national coordinator, and his youthful staff organized massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities held protests against the degradation of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, raw sewage, toxic dumps, heavily polluting factories and power plants, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. “Conservatives were for it. Liberals were for it. Democrats, Republicans and Independents were for it. So were the ins, the outs, the Executive and Legislative branches of government.” (New York Times)
In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people from 141 nations participating. Thousands of activities took place worldwide, including demonstrations, tree plantings, river clean-ups, cultural events and government-sponsored initiatives. This international groundswell of concern for the environment elevated the status of environmental issues on the world stage and led many governments to create agencies for environmental protection. At this point, the celebration of Earth Day in the Philippines was sporadic and some even unknown. Only those who knew about Earth Day in the US celebrated a local version.
Since then, Earth Day has become global and is the biggest environmental event in the world. Major environmental milestones have been launched, closed, become effective or signed on this day including the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. More than a billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year.
Earth Day in the Philippines
The Philippines has officially joined the celebration together with other nations when Earth Day went global in 1990, the 20th anniversary.
By virtue of Presidential Proclamation
No. 553, s.1990, issued by President
Corazon Aquino, April 22, 1990 was declared as “Earth Day 1990”. This was supplemented by Presidential
Proclamation No. 1481, s.2008 issued by President Gloria Arroyo, declaring the 22nd of April every year as the
“Philippine Earth Day”, naming the
Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) the lead for government, and enjoining all government agencies, local government units, and those in the private sector to conduct environmental programs and activities and to campaign for a clean and sustainable environment.
In 1999, Mark Dubois of Earth Day International, visited the Philippines and met with environmental leaders at the residence of Odette Alcantara in Blue Ridge. There, he encouraged the local environmentalists to form a coalition of the green advocates and form Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP).
With the birth of EDNP, preparations for Earth Day 2000 were underway. After months of network-building and planning, the biggest national Earth Day network was assembled with over two thousand members from the cross section of society.
In 2006, the leaders of the network decided to register a Secretariat which will handle the communications, coordination and networking work for EDNP. Thus, Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) came to existence headed by nine trustees ably assisted by its executive director.
The consultative body is the National Conveners Group. EDNP has
gathered the best and the most passionate individuals who love and care for Mother Earth. They are called to provide insights, passion and support to the mission of EDNP in promoting environmental citizenship in the country. The members of the National Convenors Group come from all sectors of society and are volunteers in a sense that they share their experience and passion in making Earth Day a significant celebration year after year.
The advisory functions in terms of the sectoral networks are vested upon the Advisory Council. They are the recognized leaders of their respective sectors and are partners in EDNP’s mission.
Since then, EDNP in cooperation with the DENR, has led the celebration of Earth Day in the Philippines particularly the Main Event. All sectors are invited to celebrate Earth Day independently with activities to educate and mobilize people to protect and appreciate the environment, rekindling public commitment and involvement in this endeavor across all social sectors. Citizen groups, local governments, businesses, neighborhoods, schools, college campuses, and faith-based groups participate with individual and collective commitments and activities often done all throughout the month of April.
The strength of Earth Day is the diversity of people participating from different communities worldwide. In our experience, the best events are those in which organizers team up with others and take input from all players involved.
Don’t try to organize your event alone — that is the direct route to burnout. Instead, encourage others to take leadership roles and delegate activities. Share the excitement and fun with others and you will create an Earth Day event where the enthusiasm is contagious. That is why we are called a network!