Hello GW, Welcome to an extra special installment of Campaign GW’s weekly newsletter. Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! We have lots of Earth Day-related activities for you to check out, as well as some info about the history of this important holiday. There are lots of things you can do to celebrate and appreciate our beautiful earth, even while stuck at home. We understand that things are quite difficult right now, so hopefully you can take some time to relax and enjoy this special occasion. Make sure to check out our Instagram account - some of our interns will be hopping on to post about what they’re doing to celebrate - and feel free to tag us in any posts you make about how you’re spending Earth Day this year. Sincerely, The Campaign GW Team

50 years of earth day

The first Earth Day happened on April 22nd, 1970. It was formed in response to environmental crises like oil spills and pollution. At the time, 10% of the US population- 20 million people - participated in protests. Historic legislative wins resulted , including the landmark Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (check out our post about its history here )!

For the last 50 years, Earth Day has played an essential role in climate change awareness and activism. Today it is recognized as the largest civic event on the planet. Let’s all do what we can to keep this tradition going and be part of this historic event.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Check out the Earth Day website by clicking here . This is one of the best places to find information about Earth Day, so whether you’re looking for activities or more info about the history of the event, this is a great place to start. It also features an “ Earth Day Live ” tab that has an interactive map of digital events happening all day across the globe.

You can also download the Earth Challenge 2020 app and record the environmental conditions of your community to help pinpoint and advocate for better policies. If you’re able to go out for a walk, make sure you have this app on hand so you can document observations about air quality and plastic pollution in your area of choice. Learn more about Earth Challenge 2020 here.

Try using the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder . This online tool lets you find out which plants are native to your area . If you like plant identification, this can just be a fun activity, but it can also be a way to identify invasive species and remove them. And if you like gardening, you can find new plants for your garden that will help support your local ecosystem!

One of the biggest ways that you as a citizen can help the environment is to use your vote . Work to get people who are committed to fighting climate change into office! You can reach out to your local legislators and tell them why you think environmental issues are important. Here is a great guide for how to go about doing so, and you can also check out the League of Conservation Voters ’ scorecard on environmental issues for local candidates here .

appreciating our earth While stuck at home, you may be missing your fix of the beauty and adventure- natural or manmade- that our Earth has to offer. Let’s take some time to appreciate various gems around the Earth that are naturally, artistically, and culturally amazing.

We all love a good waterfall, and we can all appreciate the natural beauty and calming sound of undisrupted water rushing. Humans have taken over a lot of nature, but certain places remain intact. Go here to appreciate some of the world's most astonishing waterfalls , and maybe even add some to your bucket list.

Many street artists beautify and liven our towns and cities by creating thought-provoking scenes and imagery. Street art is important because it fosters discussion about injustice, oftentimes major environmental and social issues. Check out this virtual tour of some of America’s Best Street Art to see for yourself.

A city carved from stone, Petra, Jordan is widely regarded as one of the Wonders of the World, among an impressive array of other ancient landmarks (which you can take a look at here ). Filled with immense cultural and historical significance, "the rose city of Jordan" is a great example of how people of antiquity coexisted with the natural world . Check out this beautiful narrated virtual tour of Petra to learn more and immerse yourself in this astonishing landmark.

treat yourself to a sustainable snack

When looking up Earth Day meals online, we're overloaded with recipes featuring green and blue food coloring rather than eco-friendly items. This website has a wonderful list of Earth Day recipes compiled by dairy-free blogger Alisa Fleming, who says: " I thought it was time to celebrate with sustainable recipes that don’t look like the earth, but instead, benefit the earth ." If you're craving a healthy and eco-friendly snack, browse through these 22 plant-based, dairy free, sustainability-focused meals, snacks, and desserts, including this gorgeous vegan chocolate chia pudding . There are even gluten-free options!

thanks for sticking with us. In case you missed the previous newsletter, you can check it out here . We want this newsletter to serve as a central point for our community while our eco reps are scattered around the world, and we welcome your thoughts and ideas . In addition, if you know someone who would like to start receiving the newsletter, please share this sign up link with them. We are a student organization under the umbrella of Facilities at GW with a focus on sustainability and student outreach. As we navigate this challenging time, CGW wants to provide a resource to help get us all through the remainder of the semester. Our Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook will continue to be updated with remote events, activities, and news. We hope that you are able to stay safe and healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions or concerns.

See you next week,