April 22 International
Mother Earth Day.
Earth Day is a day early
each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and
appreciation of the Earth's
natural environment. Earth Day is now
coordinated globally by the Earth Day
Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. In
2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.
Earth Day is planned for April 22 in all years at least through 2015.
The name and concept of Earth Day
was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at
a UNESCO
Conference in San Francisco.
The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco,
the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology.
Earth Day was first observed in San
Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970, the
first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise
was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant
at the United Nations where it is observed each year.
About the same time a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord
Nelson as an environmental teach-in
first held on April 22, 1970. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the
United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes,
who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in
1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Numerous communities celebrate Earth
Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.
Here you will find a listing of essential facts about the
planet earth, the home to all of humanity:
Human
Population of the Earth: Seven billion as of Nov. 2011
World
Population Growth: 1.092% - 2009 estimate (this means at the current
rate of growth, the earth's population will double in about 64 years)
Earth's Circumference at the Equator: 24,901.55 miles
(40,075.16 km)
Earth's Circumference Between the North and South Poles:
24,859.82 miles (40,008 km)
Earth's Diameter at the Equator: 7,926.28 miles (12,756.1
km)
Earth's Diameter at the Poles: 7,899.80 miles (12,713.5 km)
Average Distance from the Earth to the Sun: 93,020,000 miles
(149,669,180 km)
Average Distance from the Earth to the Moon: 238,857 miles
(384,403.1 km)
Highest
Elevation on Earth - Mt. Everest,
Asia: 29,035 feet (8850 m)
Tallest Mountain on Earth from Base to Peak - Mauna Kea, Hawaii:
33,480 feet (rising to 13,796 feet above sea level) (10204 m; 4205 m)
Point Farthest From the Center of the Earth - The peak of
the volcano Chimborazo in Ecuador at 20,561 feet (6267 m) is farthest from the center
of the earth due to its location near the equator and the oblateness of
the Earth.
Lowest
Elevation on Land - Dead Sea: 1369
feet below sea level (417.27 m)
Deepest Point
in the Ocean - Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench, Western
Pacific Ocean: 35,840 feet (10924 m)
Highest Temperature Recorded: 135.8°F - Al Aziziyah, Libya,
September 13, 1922 (57.7°C)
Lowest Temperature Recorded: -128.5°F - Vostok, Antarctica, July 21, 1983 (-89.2°C)
Water vs. Land: 70.8% Water, 29.2% Land
Age of the
Earth: 4.5 to 4.6 billion years
Atmosphere
Content: 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and traces of argon, carbon
dioxide and water
Rotation on Axis: 23 hours and 56 minutes and 04.09053
seconds. But, it takes an additional four minutes for the earth to revolve to
the same position as the day before relative to the sun (i.e. 24 hours).
Revolution around Sun: 365.2425 days
Chemical Composition of the Earth: 34.6% Iron, 29.5% Oxygen,
15.2% Silicon, 12.7% Magnesium, 2.4% Nickel, 1.9% Sulfur, and 0.05% Titanium
What and When
Is Earth Day?
By John McConnell, Founder of
Earth Day
When I first conceived of Earth
Day, a global holiday to celebrate the wonder of life on our planet, I thought
long and hard about the day on which it should fall. It must be meaningful. One
that might be accepted universally for all of humankind.
When the Vernal Equinox dawned on me, I immediately knew it was right. The Earth tremor that shook our California dwelling at that moment seemed an omen of confirmation. What could be more appropriate than the first moment of Spring, when day and night are equal around the world and hearts and minds can join together with thoughts of harmony and Earth's rejuvenation. Just as a single prayer can be siginificant, how much more so when hundreds, thousands, millions of people throughout the world join in peaceful thoughts and prayers to nurture neighbor and nature.
And so it came to pass we initiated the celebration of Earth Day on March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Designating the First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 to be Earth Day, this day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. Earth Day was firmly established for all time on a sound basis as an annual event to deepen reverence and care for life on our planet.
While other dates have been called Earth Day it is obvious that a singular Earth Day is needed and that the original choice of nature's day is best. More attention for this fact will increase the influence of Earth Day and its benefits.
Every effort to encourage Earth care is to be commended. But just as more than one birthday each year for an individual would diminish the real birthday, calling other dates Earth Day detracts from the authentic day -- which can provide a more meaningful focus and obtain more unity in our diversity. The nature of the March equinox provides a reason for an event at the same time all over the world.
Other events leading up to or following could be called Earth Festivals, or given other names. Then events can complement each other and increase awareness and care for our planet and its people. In the midst of this will be Earth Day, where the United Nations Peace Bell rings at the moment Spring begins and hearts and minds join all over the world.
When the Vernal Equinox dawned on me, I immediately knew it was right. The Earth tremor that shook our California dwelling at that moment seemed an omen of confirmation. What could be more appropriate than the first moment of Spring, when day and night are equal around the world and hearts and minds can join together with thoughts of harmony and Earth's rejuvenation. Just as a single prayer can be siginificant, how much more so when hundreds, thousands, millions of people throughout the world join in peaceful thoughts and prayers to nurture neighbor and nature.
And so it came to pass we initiated the celebration of Earth Day on March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Designating the First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 to be Earth Day, this day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. Earth Day was firmly established for all time on a sound basis as an annual event to deepen reverence and care for life on our planet.
While other dates have been called Earth Day it is obvious that a singular Earth Day is needed and that the original choice of nature's day is best. More attention for this fact will increase the influence of Earth Day and its benefits.
Every effort to encourage Earth care is to be commended. But just as more than one birthday each year for an individual would diminish the real birthday, calling other dates Earth Day detracts from the authentic day -- which can provide a more meaningful focus and obtain more unity in our diversity. The nature of the March equinox provides a reason for an event at the same time all over the world.
Other events leading up to or following could be called Earth Festivals, or given other names. Then events can complement each other and increase awareness and care for our planet and its people. In the midst of this will be Earth Day, where the United Nations Peace Bell rings at the moment Spring begins and hearts and minds join all over the world.
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