Earth Day is Every Day
Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd. While most environmentalists, scientists, outdoor and enthusiasts celebrate, protect and appreciate Earth on a daily basis, let's treat 2022 as the year to do the same.
Every day presents a fresh opportunity to learn something new, to take steps to be more Earth-friendly, and to invite others to help make a more positive impact on our beloved planet.
At Toronto Public Library, we aim to raise awareness of different ways to learn, love and care for Earth through our environmental program series, Our Fragile Planet, supported by TD Friends of the Environment (TD FEF) since 2015.
Here are five ideas (one for each week of April as a starting point 😊), with book recommendations, upcoming and recorded Live & Online programs, and other library resources on how you can make every day a mini Earth Day celebration.
1. Learn about intersectional environmentalism, an inclusive form of environmental action that includes advocating for the protection of all people and the planet. Here are some topics explored by recent Live & Online presenters, you can watch the replays on Crowdcast:
- Indigenous Environmental Justice Project
- Blackness in the Environmental Movement
- Accessible Birding: Connecting with Nature Beyond Disabilities
2. Appreciate the small things (and not-so-small things) in nature by learning how to identify, nurture, or protect different species in the wild.
- From the Invasive Fishes of the Great Lakes to the Life of Trees, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) can teach you about different areas of our local biodiversity.
- Learn about Urban Vegetable Gardening or Grow Milkweeds for Monarch Butterflies with Toronto Master Gardeners (TMG). You can also pick up free seeds (while supplies last, please register for the program for more details).
- Take part in the Toronto Birds Celebration program with Birds Canada and learn more about how to borrow a birding kit (limited kits available).
3. Transition towards a circular economy by reducing waste and maximizing resources by moving away from the linear take-make-and-dispose approach. Here are some ways to do that:
- Don’t add to landfill by tossing that old shirt or small appliance! Let Repair Café fixers help you Repurpose Your Clothes to Save the World or learn how to get started with common appliance repairs.
- Take part in a fun 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) program with the City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Services' 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer Team.
- Borrow books from Toronto Public Library on circular economy.
4. Learn about local and international environmental issues.
- Read about all the different wildlife in the Toronto Biodiversity Guides.
- While food is universal, it should be accessible, culturally appropriate, and produced through sustainable methods. Born in Somalia and raised in Italy, Chef Bashir is a Toronto-based chef who will talk about food sovereignty in this Live & Online cooking experience.
- Discover the On Civil Society: Climate series.
5. Get out there and take action – big and small actions can all make a positive impact.
- Learn how to have a friendly conversation about the state of our planet with Carbon Conversations Toronto.
- Ditch disposable single-use foodware! Learn what the University of Toronto Trash Team and the Toronto Environmental Alliance are doing to address plastic pollution and tips on what you can do about it.
- Meet our Environmentalists in Residence and be inspired by the work they do locally, within their communities and beyond!
What are some of the ways you celebrate Earth Day every day? Share in the comments below!
Comments