Earth Day reaches a major milestone this year — its 50th anniversary — as the world goes through a tumultuous period of change due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. That first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
One was a former school administrator who had instituted energy-saving measures at schools he oversaw and brought that same passion to his work with the church. Another was concerned with climate change and felt that collective action was necessary to reverse the damaging effects of relying on fossil fuels.
Caring for God’s creation — especially for our fellow human beings — requires constant attention and daily effort, the Rev. Denise Anderson said during the Chapel Service Wednesday at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Ky.
One of the original 15 pilot churches certified as a PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation (ECC), First Presbyterian Church (FPC) in Asheville, North Carolina, is a congregation that seeks to put their faith into action not only with deeds of compassion but also through acts of social witness. Finding ways to advocate for justice for all of God’s children, including God’s creation, is essential to being faithful disciples of Christ.
Presbyterians will be joining millions of people worldwide on April 22 to commemorate Earth Day, an annual awareness campaign focusing on earth care and the need to protect the planet from harmful pollution and degradation.
Presbyterians will join other interfaith, ecumenical and environmental leaders across the world this weekend, to commemorate Earth Day, an annual event to show support for environmental protection.
By Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service Observing its 45th anniversary today, Earth Day has been the catalyst for a number of environmental regulations and laws over the life of… Read more »