home-Cloth-What does the inscription on the Earth Day Bell say? World Events: Earth Day

What does the inscription on the Earth Day Bell say? World Events: Earth Day

Earth Day(English) Earth Day) - a name used to refer to various events held in the spring designed to encourage people to be more considerate of the fragile and vulnerable environment On the Earth. The event was first organized by the Earth Day Network. There are two main periods for Earth Days: in March (around spring equinox) and April 22. In addition, many grassroots members and advocacy groups are now planning and holding a number of Earth Day events around the summer solstice to make the most of the warm weather and free time of people.

Earth Day - Equinox

Earth Day was originally celebrated in many countries on the vernal equinox to mark the moment when spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) or autumn (in the Southern Hemisphere) begins.

Symbolism

The Earth flag is not official symbol anything (since there is no official planetary government or state). It is a photograph of the planet from space (currently the image taken by the Apollo 17 astronauts on the way to the Moon is used) against a dark blue background. Traditionally, the Flag is associated with Earth Day and many other environmental, peacekeeping and civil international events.

The symbol of the day is the green Greek letter Θ (Theta) on a white background. The interesting thing is that the Esperanto anniversary symbol is almost the same.

Peace Bell on Earth Day

On Earth Day different countries Traditionally, the Peace Bell sounds, calling on the people of the Earth to feel the planetary community and make efforts to protect peace on the planet and preserve the beauty of our common home. The Peace Bell is a symbol of peace, peaceful life and friendship, eternal brotherhood and solidarity of peoples. And at the same time, it is a call to action in the name of preserving peace and life on Earth, preserving Man and Culture.

The first Peace Bell was installed at the UN headquarters in New York in 1954. It is cast from coins donated by children on all continents and is a symbol of global solidarity among the people of the Earth. Orders and medals and other honorary signs of people from many countries are also fused into it. The inscription on the Bell reads: "Long live universal peace throughout the world." In 1996, the same bell was installed at the UN in Vienna. The Peace Bell is installed in many cities in Japan, in major cities Germany (1989), Poland, Turkey (1989), Mexico (1990), Australia (1992), Mongolia (1993), Philippines (1994), Canada (1996), Brazil (1997), Argentina (1998), Ecuador (1999) ), Uzbekistan (2003) and other countries.

In Russia, the “Peace Bell on Earth Day” campaign has been held since 1998 on the initiative and under the patronage of the USSR pilot-cosmonaut, Hero Soviet Union A. N. Berezovoy in International Center Roerichs. On grand opening of the first Earth Day in Moscow, Sergei Petrovich Kapitsa said: “... Earth Day is a day of responsibility towards our planet, responsibility towards the people who inhabit it, towards nature itself, of which we are a part.”

The organizers of the “Bell of Peace on Earth Day” event in Moscow are the International League for the Defense of Culture, the International Center-Museum named after N.K. Roerich, the International Humanitarian Foundation “Knowledge” named after K.V. Frolov, the Russian Cosmonautics Federation, Russian Academy Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky. Representatives of the UN Information Center in Moscow, the Moscow UNESCO Office, the Moscow Government, cosmonauts, famous figures science and culture. This is a very important day for all residents of the country.

In the spring, the inhabitants of the planet celebrate several wonderful holidays. One of them is World Earth Day. Its date coincides with the vernal equinox. In 1971, the UN Secretary General asked people to unite, be friends, take care of our common fragile home and established a holiday. On March 21 of the same year it was held for the first time.

In 2009, the UN drafted a resolution in which it approved another date to honor the planet. The second official holiday - International Mother Earth Day - falls on April 22.

The timing for these events could not be better. Nature awakens from winter sleep, the freshness of young leaves emanates everywhere. Such a situation makes people feel the beauty of nature and think about what can be done to save wonderful world from .

A symbol of peace

On the twenty-first of March, people come out of their homes to express their solidarity with each other. For them beautiful music The Peace Bell rings, calling to think about the preservation of all living things.

This symbol of peace did not appear by chance. In 1952 he was brought to New York and ended up at the UN headquarters. To cast this miracle in memory of the victims of the nuclear bombing, children from many countries collected coins for several years and sent them to Japan. The bell was installed on a special structure. If you get closer, you can read on the metal: “Long live world peace.”

The unique bell, created almost immediately after the war, is a symbol of brotherhood and unity for many people. His alarm calls not to stand on the sidelines, but to participate in a common cause - the preservation of the fragile world and nature. Gradually, such bells appeared in cities with different cultures.

The glorification of the holiday is worldwide, and Earth Day is civil initiative. People plant seedlings, clean up areas, and organize exhibitions dedicated to Mother Earth. As a sign of respect for her, major cities temporarily block traffic.

How did it all start?

International Earth Day, which is celebrated in April, has been around for a long time. The history of its origin is quite interesting.

In the 19th century, forests were barbarically cut down in America. People used the valuable wood to build houses, as firewood and for other needs. Many groves were completely destroyed. This could not but worry people who love their land. Eventually, the Nebraska Secretary of Agriculture took the initiative to restore the forests.

To do this, he invited every resident to plant trees and established a prize for the one who grows the most. People enthusiastically took up an interesting task. In just 1 day, more than a million green spaces were rooted. After some time, the state authorities established Tree Day, which is still celebrated simultaneously with Earth Day - April 22.

Large-scale celebrations first took place in 1970. American students, under the leadership of G. Nelson, united and organized environmental actions throughout the country. Schoolchildren, college students and ordinary Americans took part in them. People liked greening their cities and caring about nature conservation so much that Earth Day began to be celebrated annually.

Another event influenced the popularity of the holiday. In 1969, a disaster occurred in the city of Santa Barbara. Oil spilled, the ocean was very polluted, and hundreds of animals, fish and birds died as a result. The Americans were horrified by the event, and they came out en masse to eliminate its consequences. Afterwards, many people could not stand aside and decided to annually remind everyone that it is necessary to protect nature.

In 1990, they decided to celebrate Earth Day in many countries, and the environmental campaign became truly international, because about 200 million people were involved in it. Russia has been an active participant in the celebration since 1992.

Attributes

International Earth Day is symbolized by the Greek letter θ. This sign Green colour depicted on a white square. It was invented by the initiator of honoring the Earth - G. Nelson, Wyoming state senator.

In addition, there is a flag of the planet. This unofficial symbol, which can often be seen at events dedicated to protecting the environment and preserving peace.

Flag - photography Globe, taken from space by American astronauts. On your favorite planet, seas, mountains and forests are clearly visible, it floats against a blue background. Looking at this flag, you are once again convinced of how beautiful and fragile the world is, which needs protection and care.

Events

Behind long years the celebration has developed traditions. On the day of the solar equinox and April 22, numerous promotions and events take place:

  • rallies calling for peace;
  • song festivals and exhibitions dedicated to ecology;
  • concerts, sports races and marathons;
  • street cleaning and landscaping;
  • the ringing of a bell, requiring one to think about peace on earth.

Every year, leading scientists gather for round table and discuss what can be done to preserve the amazing nature, to conserve the resources of our earth and to solve other environmental problems, which are becoming more and more numerous.

Different countries have their own traditions on this holiday.

  • In Budapest, it is customary to hold multi-thousand races and other sports competitions.
  • On April 22, 2008, an unprecedented event took place in Seoul - a day without road transport.
  • In the Philippines, they like to celebrate International Mother Earth Day with bicycle races and hold seminars on the development of environmental education.
  • A few years ago, Christie's auction house held a special auction called "To Protect the Earth." Many took part in it famous people and politics. All proceeds were donated to environmental organizations, many of which went towards protecting the world's oceans and national parks.
  • Every year the World Fund wildlife an event is being held in which all people can take part. It occurs on the last Saturday of the first month of spring and is called Earth Hour. On this day in certain time The lights are turned off on the central streets, in the world's museums and palaces. Times Square is plunged into darkness, the Eiffel Tower and many homes are not illuminated ordinary people. According to independent estimates, more than a billion people around the world participate in this action.

Holiday in Russia

Since Soviet times, our country has maintained a wonderful tradition of going to community cleanups every spring. This allows you to tidy up your yard after winter and plant young tree seedlings.

Warm spring days encourages people to go outside, dig up a flower bed in front of the house, remove garbage and make the planet a little cleaner and more beautiful.

In Russia on this significant day public organizations carry out mass actions to protect the environment, and ordinary people go into nature, taking with them a shovel, a rake and seedlings of young trees. And, of course, the Peace Bell sounds, which is installed in Novosibirsk within the G.N. Roerich.

What is this day for?

International Mother Earth Day is incredibly relevant. Right now, scientists have calculated that humanity could die within 300 or 1000 years. This is all due to the consumer attitude towards nature and the large-scale destruction of forests, rivers, and valuable resources.

  • Until the technological revolution occurred in the world, human actions did not cause significant damage to the earth. A natural balance was maintained, which was disrupted by the new possibilities of humanity.
  • Now is the time to realize that our planet is a unique spaceship, which has everything for long-term operation, but, unfortunately, we cannot stop and replenish resources, so they need to be protected.
  • By polluting rivers, we worsen air quality, destroy flora and fauna, and bring the death of the planet closer.

Russia has preserved unique corners of wild nature, untouched landscapes, and deep lakes. But if you don’t stop the deforestation of taiga forests, pouring chemical waste into rivers and littering the world’s oceans, these values ​​can be lost very quickly.

To prevent this from happening, an international holiday was invented, and Earth Day is celebrated in all corners of the world. On this day, everyone should think about the future of the planet. Everyone's participation is important for nature conservation. Any contribution will be beneficial. You don't have to go far. Look around, plant a tree, remove the trash near the entrance, dig up a garden bed, sow flowers, and life will become more beautiful.

Planet Earth, the only star in the solar system with a favorable environment for life. April 22 – International Earth Day. This memorable day originated in 1970, exactly 40 years ago. It was on April 22 in the United States that a well-known politician and activist, Senator Gaylord Nelson from the state of Wisconsin, organized an unprecedented action, creating a group of students led by Dennis Hayes (Harvard student), who called on the world to protect the environment and preserve a favorable climate. Since this was a time of active student movements, the initiative attracted a lot of attention.

Despite the fact that the senator and his “staff” had neither the time nor the resources to organize a truly mass events, they happened (such as the 20 million demonstration and hundreds of schools joining the project). As Nelson said, “Earth Day organized itself.”

In 1971, due to the success of the first Day, Senator Nelson proclaimed Earth Week (during the 3rd week of April) as an annual event that became extremely popular among the US population.

On the wave of public and political activity, awakened by Earth Day, many laws and acts related to environmental protection were passed in the United States (for example, the famous Clean Air Act). In Russia, Earth Day is celebrated as part of the Days of Protection from Environmental Hazards.

In 2009, the UN General Assembly proclaimed International Mother Earth Day, deciding to celebrate it on April 22.

Earth Day symbols include the Earth Flag and the Earth Day Symbol.

The Earth flag is not an official symbol of anything (since there is no official planetary government or state). It features a photograph of the planet from space (currently the one taken by the Apollo 17 astronauts on their way to the Moon) against a dark blue background. Traditionally, the Flag is associated with Earth Day and many other environmental, peacekeeping and civil international events.

Is the symbol of the Day a green Greek letter? on a white background.

Peace Bell on Earth Day

On Earth Day, the Peace Bell traditionally rings in different countries, calling on the people of the Earth to feel the planetary community and make efforts to protect peace on the planet and preserve the beauty of our common home. The Bell of Peace is a symbol of calm, peaceful life and friendship, eternal brotherhood and solidarity of peoples. And at the same time, it is a call to action in the name of preserving peace and life on Earth, preserving Man and Culture.

The first Peace Bell was installed at the UN headquarters in New York in 1954. It is cast from coins donated by children on all continents and is a symbol of global solidarity among the people of the Earth. Orders and medals and other honorary signs of people from many countries are also fused into it. The inscription on the Bell reads: “Long live universal peace throughout the world.” In 1996, the same bell was installed at the UN in Vienna. The Peace Bell is installed in many cities in Japan, in major cities in Germany (1989), Poland, Turkey (1989), Mexico (1990), Australia (1992), Mongolia (1993), Philippines (1994), Canada (1996), Brazil ( 1997), Argentina (1998), Ecuador (1999), Uzbekistan (2003) and other countries of the world.

In Russia, the “Bell of Peace on Earth Day” event has been held since 1998 on the initiative and under the patronage of the USSR pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union A. N. Berezovoy at the International Center of the Roerichs. At the grand opening of the first Earth Day in Moscow, Sergei Petrovich Kapitsa said: “... Earth Day is a day of responsibility to our planet, responsibility to the people who inhabit it, to nature itself, of which we are a part.”

The organizers of the “Bell of Peace on Earth Day” event in Moscow are the International League for the Defense of Culture, the International Center-Museum named after N.K. Roerich, the International Humanitarian Foundation “Knowledge” named after K.V. Frolov, the Russian Cosmonautics Federation, the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky. The “Bell of Peace on Earth Day” ceremony is attended by representatives of the UN Information Center in Moscow, the Moscow UNESCO Office, the Moscow Government, astronauts, famous scientists and cultural figures. This is a very important day for all residents of the country.

Although Earth Day is considered to be April 22, it was originally celebrated in many countries on the vernal equinox to mark the moment when spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) or autumn (in the Southern Hemisphere) begins. The UN usually celebrates Earth Day on March 20-21.

February 26, 1971 U Thant, Secretary General The UN signed a special proclamation dedicated to this event. Every year on March 20-21, the peace bell rings at the UN headquarters in New York (see above).

On Earth Day, International Mother Earth Day is also celebrated (other official languages UN: English International Mother Earth Day, Spanish Dia Internacional de la Madre Tierra, fr. Journee internationale de la Terre nourriciere) has been celebrated since 2010 every year on April 22. This holiday was approved by the UN General Assembly in 2009 (resolution No. A/RES/63/278).

The resolution notes that the term “Mother Earth” is generally accepted in many countries, and that it reflects the dependence between the planet, its ecosystems and humans.

Inviting all UN member states, international and non-governmental organizations to celebrate “International Mother Earth Day”, the General Assembly draws attention to the fact that Earth Day is already celebrated annually in many countries.

According to some reports, this International Day arose on the basis of the Tree Day previously celebrated in the United States.

A tiny grain of sand, lost in the vast Cosmos, has become home to infinitely many forms of life! How often do we think about this amazing fact? World Earth Day serves as a reminder of what unites representatives of thousands of professions, nationalities and religious denominations: Despite social and cultural differences, we are all children of the Earth.

In 1968, on December 21, the Apollo 8 spacecraft left Earth's orbit and headed towards the Moon. The flight lasted just under three days. On December 24, Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 entered orbit around the Moon. In 20 hours, the ship made 10 orbits around the only satellite of our planet and returned safely to Earth. The names of the crew members were forever inscribed in history, and the information obtained turned out to be invaluable from a scientific point of view. And this flight literally blew the minds of millions of people!

During the fourth and last television session, Commander F. Borman, on behalf of the entire crew, voiced Merry Christmas greetings and wished Good night and good luck, ending the broadcast with the words: “God bless all of you there, on beautiful earth" Before this, the astronauts showed footage of the lunar surface and took turns reading a passage from the Bible (1:1-10, which tells about the creation of the Earth). The crew brought with them to Earth the first ever photographs of our planet taken by man from such a distance and in such excellent quality. Historical photo, dubbed “Earthrise,” was seen by the whole world in a matter of days!

Films, scientific societies, environmental movements, magazines, developments and so much more - the return of Apollo 8 was the beginning of a space fever that lasted a decade. It's funny that the crew did not make any major discovery. Of course, the astronauts told the scientific world new Interesting Facts and information that is extremely important within the framework of cosmology. But for ordinary people everything remained the same - a small blue ball dangling in endless blackness. But knowing and seeing with your own eyes is a big difference. They showed. We simply showed all the people our common, unique and irreplaceable home.

Successful start

The idea of ​​celebrating Earth Day belongs to Senator G. Nelson. Having gathered several students and appointing D. Hayes as the head of their small community, Nelson relied on word of mouth. The news about the planned event quickly spread among the student community, the young guys informed their parents, friends and everyone they knew about their plans. The incredible happened: for the first time, without financial investments, it was possible to organize a peaceful event of such a grandiose scale! Thousands of schools and universities supported the initiative, millions of people demonstrated on April 22, 1970 with banners and posters “All people are brothers”, “Take care of the Earth”, “The Earth is our mother”, etc.

In 1971, the scenario repeated itself - millions of demonstrators, school matinees, student evenings, publications in the media. The main events were again held on April 22, but when celebrated on such a grand scale, one day is clearly not enough. There was physically not enough time for all the planned events - seminars, conferences, holiday celebrations, etc. Therefore, it was decided to declare the third week of April “Earth Week.” And this idea was also accepted with a bang, becoming one of the Americans’ favorite traditions over several decades.

Holiday without borders

Officially, International Earth Day has been celebrated all over the world since 2009. Showing respect for the initiators of the holiday, the UN committee approved the date chosen by Nelson in 1970 - April 22, but slightly changed the name of the holiday - Mother Earth Day. Although on national level For residents of the United States, the holiday became official back in 1971.

In the majority European countries Earthly “name days” are celebrated twice. The first time according to the ecological calendar, in March on the 20th or 21st, coinciding the celebration with the day of the spring equinox. Interestingly, March 21 is the official Forest Day, and March 22 is Water Day. Such is the global ecological trio! For the second time, the events are held according to US traditions, on April 22. In Russia, this holiday has been celebrated since 1988, but officially only since 1992.

Well forgotten old

Even in the pre-Christian era, the Slavs honored the Earth as a mother, thanking her for the gifts she gave and for life itself. On the Holy Day, which fell on May 10, peasants organized mass celebrations and performed rituals that were most important for the well-being of the communities. On Earth Day, the Slavs had the opportunity to ask the planet itself for procreation in young families, for a good harvest, for peace, and good weather from the point of view of farmers.

Holy Day is a time of rest for the Earth. During the day, it was strictly forbidden to carry out any land work, except for sowing in previously prepared fields. On this day it was forbidden to stick stakes or knives into the ground, plow, dig or disturb Mother in any other way.

Today is Earth Day in Russia and many others Slavic countries celebrated three times: pagan traditions on the Holy Day, according to US traditions and on the day of the spring equinox. So what is the correct date to celebrate this holiday? Neither the government nor the people really think about this issue. Official events and local celebrations take place three times a year!

Symbolism

The international symbol of the Earth’s “name day” is the Greek letter theta. Its outlines resemble a planet slightly flattened at the poles, crossed by the equator.

Banners, streamers and banners, city streets, pages of magazines and websites on this day are decorated with the unofficial flag of the Earth: a photo of the planet on a blue background. The photo was taken in 1971 by one of the Apollo 17 crew members. The photograph was called "Blue Marble", and to this day is the most famous image of our planet.

Earth Hour

The world has not yet decided when Earth Day is celebrated in most countries, so the three main events are scattered across the calendar. The initiator of the first event was WWF, and it takes place on the last Saturday in March.

On this day, from 20-30 to 21-30 local time, residents of all countries are asked to turn off electrical appliances and turn off the lights. The action draws humanity's attention to the problems of energy consumption, the environment in general, and threatening climate change due to the artificial “heating” of the planet. The event took international scale back in 2007, and a couple of years later Earth Hour became the most widespread event in which more than a billion people participated!

The action received government support. During Earth Hour, the main bridges, buildings and monuments of 450 cities around the world stop lighting up! Plunges into darkness Sydney theater Opera, Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge, Coliseum, Moscow State University building, Borodinsky Bridge, etc.

Green Marathon

This event takes place at the end of April, often on the 22nd. In order to protect the Earth's ecology, residents of all countries are invited to give up traveling by car for a day. Millions of people take to bicycles, participate in local competitions and marathons, or simply go for a bike ride.

April in Russia is not always conducive to cycling, so we often organize races, greening campaigns, clean-up days, etc. as part of the “green marathon”. As throughout the world, children and teenagers are actively involved in this part of the celebration.

Peace Bell

The Peace Bell was first sounded on Earth Day back in 1970, although the tradition of annual worldwide alarms began much earlier. The very first Peace Bell was installed in 1954 near the New York headquarters of the UN. It was cast from orders, medals and coins donated by children. In subsequent years, monuments with similar meanings appeared in many countries of the world - Japan, Poland, Germany, Canada, Australia, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, etc.

The ringing of bells sweeping across the Earth calls on people to stand up for their planet, to be united, to leave behind political and religious differences.

Educational events

Round tables, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, debates are the most important part of the holiday, without which the picture would not be complete. All over the world there are various events, charity meetings, etc., touching on one of the selected topics - ecological situation, social problems, protecting endangered species, poverty in third world countries and much more. Scientists present new developments covering the most different areas life, but united by one goal - to reduce resource consumption and prevent pollution of the planet.

How to celebrate Earth Day?

Have a good time with friends and tell everyone about important date- it's simple! Lots of options:

  • Send warm wishes to everyone you know by email or deliver cards in person. It's great if you have time to make cards with your children;
  • organize a flash mob with music and dancing on main street cities;
  • Walk around town inviting passersby to join an Earth Day march. Print the Earth emblem or flag on posters, banners, T-shirts. Distribute to everyone who joined the procession;
  • organize a cleanup day. And it is not at all necessary to cover a huge territory;
  • plant lilac bushes, flowers or trees in a local park or on your street;
  • Organize a charity event and donate the collected funds to a local nature protection fund. And, of course, you can take part in all these events organized by someone else.

The world holiday Earth Day cannot pass without attention to children. You can organize a fun matinee or sports competition for the kids. You can go with your children to the planetarium or all together, with the help of adults, assemble a model solar system. You can watch a film about our planet or tell your children interesting facts about the Earth: the age of the planet, its size and differences from other celestial bodies, why the seasons change, how quickly the Earth rotates and why people do not fall from the surface of the planet. Tell the children that all people are earthlings, that we have common Home, and therefore we must take care of it all together. Invite the kids to draw a festive picture on the theme “Earth Day is...”. Schoolchildren can take part in cleanup or landscaping events.

Sociologists believe that people will stop dividing each other along racial and religious lines only in the event of an alien threat. Like, little green men will arrive, and the whole world will immediately be divided into Earthlings and Aliens, and other differences will lose all meaning. Let's prove to pessimists that people can be truly intelligent today!

...Earth Day is a special time to draw the attention of all people to the awareness of planet Earth as a common home and to feel our universal community...


(UN messages to humanity)



The holiday "Earth Day (World Earth Day)" is celebrated on March 21. This date was chosen because the vernal equinox falls at this time. It is believed that every year on the day of the spring equinox there is a change in the biological rhythm of the planet and a renewal of nature. Residents of many countries around the world began to celebrate this holiday in order to somehow highlight the moment when spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The UN usually celebrates Earth Day on March 19-21. Every year, in honor of this holiday, the Peace Bell is rung at the UN headquarters in New York.


The idea of ​​Earth Day originated in the USA. It was started by businessman and publisher John McConnell, who also became the creator of the Earth flag.


In November 1969, within the framework of the UNESCO conference, dedicated to issues environmental protection, he presented his project for celebrating this day. The City of San Francisco issued an Earth Day Proclamation. On March 21, 1970, the first organized celebration of this day took place. Moreover, this action immediately attracted public attention.


On February 26, 1971, the UN Secretary General signed a special proclamation dedicated to this event. In 1971 it was already carried out whole week Earth. This event very quickly gained wide popularity in America. Later it turned into international action. We can say that Earth Day is a civil initiative that any people, groups and organizations can join.


The name "Earth Day" is used to refer to various events that are held in the spring to encourage people around the world to be more aware of our planet's environment, which is fragile and vulnerable. As you know, people themselves are destroying their planet: they cut down forests, pollute the air, soil and water, and drain water bodies. All this does not pass without a trace; industrial growth plays a very important role in this. Ecological situation The situation that has developed on Earth today is very difficult and continues to worsen every year. Man's attitude towards nature must change now, otherwise it will be too late. We should think about all this, at least in connection with Earth Day. On this day, various events and actions are held in different parts of our planet: activists organize clean-ups, plant trees, hold conferences, exhibitions dedicated to nature, and block traffic on busy streets in large cities.


Today in the world there are not one, but two Earth Days that are similar to each other. One of them is held on March 21, as mentioned above, and the second falls on April 22. April 22 is celebrated as International Mother Earth Day, which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2009.


In recent years, some organizations and ordinary participants have also held a number of similar events, timed to coincide with the summer solstice.


Flag and symbol of the Earth


There is a Flag of the Earth in the world. However, it is not considered an official symbol. This flag is a photograph of our planet taken from space. In this capacity, a photograph of the planet on a dark blue background, which was taken by the Apollo 17 astronauts on their way to the Moon, is now used.


Traditionally, this Flag is associated with many other similar international events that are aimed at protecting the environment and maintaining peace. A special Earth Day symbol was also chosen. He is greek letter Θ green color located on a white background. This symbol appeared in 1971, its author was Gaylord Nelson.


It is intended to encourage humanity to pay close attention to how fragile the Earth's ecosystem is and try to do everything to preserve it. Various anthropogenic impacts lead to disruption of the structure and functioning of nature.


Traditions for the Earth Day holiday. Peace Bell


According to established tradition, in different countries it is customary to ring the Peace Bell on Earth Day. This sound should call on all inhabitants of the Earth to feel the planetary community, at least for this moment. They should think about preserving the beauty of our planet. The Peace Bell is a symbol of peaceful life, friendship and solidarity of all peoples. In addition, it serves as a call for the preservation of life on Earth. After all, the future of our children and our planet as a whole now depends on us. The purpose of the Earth Day bell ringing ceremony is to encourage people to think about ways to preserve and improve life on our planet during the minute that the Peace Bell rings.


The first such Peace Bell was installed in 1954 at the New York headquarters of the UN. It was donated by the Japan Association for the United Nations. An interesting fact is that this bell was cast from coins that were donated by children from sixty countries from all continents.the hope that the nuclear tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will never happen again. Various orders, medals and other insignia from different countries were also fused into it.


There is an inscription on the Bell that reads: "Long live universal peace throughout the world."


Then the same bells began to be installed in other countries. In 1996, such a bell appeared at the UN headquarters in Vienna. The Peace Bell has been installed in many major European cities, as well as in Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Turkey, Mongolia, South America, Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries.


World Earth Day. Environmental aspects


Earth Day could only have arisen in the twentieth century, because it was in this century that scientists were able to calculate that the threat of total destruction of humanity was possible in 300-1000 years. When realizing such a prospect, an inevitable desire arises to think about the eternal. Humanity thought that the Earth was eternal, that people would live on it forever, but it turned out that the threat of the end of all life lurks in man himself.


A series of technological revolutions that human history has undergone have upset the balance between man and nature. In the sixties of the 20th century, when people first left the planet, the first opportunity arose to look at the Earth from space, after which everyone clearly realized that the Earth’s resources are not unlimited...


Appreciate the beauty and richness of the world around you, take care of nature and our little brothers. After all, the future of our Planet is in our hands...



Sources:





In addition, we invite everyone to familiarize themselves with the Earth Charter and Declaration:



* Approved on March 14, 2000 by the International Commission for the Earth Declaration


(UNESCO, Paris)



EARTH CHARTER


PREAMBLE



We are at a critical juncture in Earth's history where humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes more and more interdependent and fragile, the future holds both great danger and great promise. To move forward, we must recognize that, with all the beauty of our diversity of cultures and ways of life, we are one human family and community of one Earth with a common destiny. We must come together to create a sustainable global community based on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace. What is particularly important in this endeavor is that we, the people of Earth, declare our responsibility to each other, to the great community of life, and to future generations.


Earth is our home


Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. The earth, our home, is alive and bears a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence risky and uncertain, but the Earth provides the natural conditions necessary for the evolution of life. The sustainability of a living community and the well-being of humanity depend on the preservation of a healthy biosphere with all its ecosystems, a rich diversity of plants and animals, fertile soil, clean water and clean air. The global environment, with its limited resources, is a common concern for all people. Protecting the vitality, diversity and beauty of the Earth is a sacred duty.


Global situation


Dominant production and consumption patterns are causing environmental devastation, resource depletion and mass species extinction. Communities are being destroyed. The benefits of development are being distributed unfairly and the gap between rich and poor is growing. Injustice, poverty, ignorance and armed conflict are widespread and cause much suffering. Unprecedented population growth has strained social and ecological systems. The foundations of global security are under threat. These trends are dangerous - but not inevitable.


Challenges of the future


We have a choice: form a global partnership to care for the Earth and each other, or risk self-destruction and the destruction of the diversity of life. Fundamental changes are needed in our value system, institutions and way of life. We must realize that, provided basic needs are met, human development is primarily about living longer, not having more. We have the knowledge and technology to meet the needs of all people and reduce our impact on the environment. Global civil society urgently needs to create new opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental, economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and together we can develop comprehensive solutions.


Everyone's responsibility


To realize these aspirations, we must choose to live with a sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves both with the global community and with our local communities. We are simultaneously citizens of different nations and one world, in which the local and global are interconnected. Each shares responsibility for the present and future well-being of the human race and the wider living world. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all living things is strengthened if we live with reverence for the miracle of existence, gratitude for the gift of life and modesty appropriate to man's place in nature.


We urgently need a vision of core values ​​that will provide an ethical basis for the emerging global community. Therefore, united in hope, we affirm the following interrelated principles of sustainable living as common standards by which the behavior of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments and transnational institutions should be guided and measured.


PRINCIPLES


I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE LIVING COMMUNITY


1. Respect the Earth and life in all its diversity.


A. Recognize that all things are interdependent and every form of life is valuable, regardless of its significance to people.


b. To affirm belief in the inherent dignity of each individual and the intellectual, artistic, ethical and spiritual potential humanity.


2. Caring for the living community with understanding, compassion and love.


a. Recognize that, together with the right to own, operate and use Natural resources there is a responsibility to prevent damage to the environment and protect people's rights.


b. Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and opportunity comes increased responsibility to promote the general welfare.


3. Build just, socially inclusive, sustainable and peaceful democratic societies.


a. Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone with the opportunity to realize their full potential.


b. Promote social and economic justice that enables everyone to achieve secure and meaningful livelihoods while being environmentally responsible.


a. Recognize that the agency of each generation is determined by the needs of future generations.


b. Pass on to future generations the values, traditions and institutions that support the long-term prosperity of the Earth's human and ecological communities.


To achieve these four core commitments, it is necessary to:


II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY


5. Protect and restore the integrity of the Earth's ecological systems, focusing on biodiversity and the natural processes that support the sustainability of life.


a. Master plans and norms at all levels sustainable development, according to which environmental conservation and restoration are integrated into all development initiatives.


b. To protect the Earth's life support systems, maintain biodiversity and preserve our natural heritage, create and protect viable nature and biosphere reserves, including pristine lands and waters.


c. Promote recovery of at-risk species and ecosystems.


d. Control and eradicate alien or genetically modified organisms harmful to natural species and the environment, and prevent the introduction of such harmful organisms.


e. Manage the use of renewable resources such as water, soil, forest products, and marine life in such a way that their regeneration rates are not exceeded and the health of ecosystems is protected.


f. Manage the extraction and use of non-renewable resources - minerals and liquid fuels - in a way that minimizes their depletion and does not cause serious damage to the environment.



6. Practice the prevention of environmental harm as the best method of environmental protection and choose the path of prudence in cases of limited knowledge or insufficient information.


a. Take action to prevent serious or irreversible damage to the environment, even if science does not yet have complete and conclusive evidence.


b. Place the burden of proof on those who claim that the proposed activity will not cause serious harm and hold the proponent responsible for the environmental damage.


c. Ensure that decision-making takes into account the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long-term and global impacts of human activities.


d. Prevent contamination of any part of the environment and prevent the accumulation of radioactive, toxic or other harmful substances.


e. Avoid military activities that damage the environment.


7. Adopt structures of production, consumption and reproduction that guarantee the preservation of the regenerative capabilities of the Earth, respect for human rights and the well-being of society.


a. Minimize, recycle and reuse materials used in production and consumption systems, and ensure that remaining waste can be absorbed into ecosystems.


b. Use electricity economically and efficiently, increasingly increasing the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.


c. Promote the development, adoption and equitable transfer of environmentally sound technologies.


d. Internalize the full environmental and social cost of goods and services in sales prices and enable consumers to identify products that meet the highest social and environmental standards.


e. Guarantee universal access to health care that ensures reproductive health and managed reproduction.


f. Adopt a lifestyle that gives special meaning quality of life and material wealth in a finite world.


8. To develop the study of environmental sustainability and to promote the open exchange and wide application of acquired knowledge.


a. Support international scientific and technical cooperation in the field of sustainability, with particular emphasis on the needs of developing countries.


b. Recognize and protect traditional knowledge and spiritual wisdom in all cultures that contribute to the environment and the well-being of humanity.


c. Ensure that information vital to human health and the environment, including genetic issues, is in the public domain.


III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE


9. Eradicate poverty by recognizing it as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.


a. Guarantee the human rights to drinking water, clean air, food security, uncontaminated soil, housing and safe sanitation by allocating the necessary national and international resources.


b. Guarantee all people access to the education and resources needed to achieve sustainable livelihoods, and provide social protection and safety nets for those who are unable to support themselves.


c. Recognize the excluded, protect the vulnerable, help the suffering, create opportunities for them to develop their abilities and follow their aspirations.


10. Ensure that economic activity and institutions at all levels supported human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.


A. To promote the equitable distribution of goods within and between nations.


b. Strengthen the intellectual, financial, technical and social resources of developing peoples and free them from burdensome international debts.


c. Ensure that trade promotes sustainable resource use, environmental protection and progressive labor standards.


d. Demand that transnational corporations and international financial organizations operate transparently in the interests of the public, holding them responsible for the consequences of their actions.


11. Promote gender equality and justice as a prerequisite for sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health and economic opportunity.


a. Ensure the rights of women and girls and end all violence against them.


b. Promote the active participation of women in all spheres of economic, political, civil, social and cultural life as full partners, decision makers, leaders and beneficiaries.


c. Strengthen families and provide safety and nurturing in a loving environment for all family members.


12. Protect the rights of all people, without discrimination, to natural and social environment, supporting their dignity, physical health and spiritual well-being, with particular attention to the rights of indigenous people and minorities.


A. Eliminate discrimination in all its forms, such as discrimination based on skin color, sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, language, nationality, ethnicity or social status.


b. Assert indigenous peoples' rights to their own spirituality, knowledge, land, resources and traditionally sustainable livelihood patterns.


c. Respect and support the young people of our communities, giving them the opportunity to play their essential role in shaping sustainable societies.


d. Protect and restore places of special cultural and spiritual significance.


IV. DEMOCRACY, NON-VIOLENCE AND PEACE


13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, ensure transparency and accountability of governance, including participation in decision-making, and access to justice.


a. Protect the right of everyone to receive clear and timely information on environmental matters and all plans and activities that may affect or affect them.


b. Support local, regional and global civil society, promoting the full participation of all stakeholders and organizations in decision-making processes.


c. Protect the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, association and dissent. d. Establish effective and efficient access to administrative and independent judicial procedures, including redress and satisfaction for environmental damage and the threat of such damage.


e. Eliminate corruption in all public and private institutions.


f. Strengthen local communities by empowering them to care for their environment and establish environmental responsibilities at levels of government where those responsibilities can be most effectively fulfilled.


14. Incorporate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge, values, and experiences necessary for sustainable living.


a. Ensure that everyone, especially children and youth, has the opportunity to receive an education that will enable them to actively contribute to sustainable development.


a. Avoid cruelty to animals kept in human society, and protect them from suffering.


b. Protect wild animals from hunting, trapping or fishing practices that cause severe, prolonged or avoidable suffering.


c. To the maximum extent possible, avoid or exclude the capture or death of individuals of species that were not the target of the activity.


16. To foster mutual understanding, solidarity and cooperation among all people, within and between nations.


b. Apply comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflicts and use cooperative methods to manage and resolve environmental conflicts and other disputes.


c. Demilitarize national security systems to a level that excludes the possibility of provocation, and redirect military resources to peaceful purposes, including environmental rehabilitation, tolerance, non-violence and peace.


a. Encourage and support


THE WAY FORWARD


Like never before in history, common destiny encourages us to seek a new beginning. The principles of the Earth Charter promise such renewal. To achieve this vision, we must commit to applying and upholding the values ​​and ideals of the Earth Charter.


This requires a change of thoughts and soul. This requires a new awareness of global interdependence and shared responsibility. We must creatively develop and apply the worldview of sustainable living at local, national, regional and global levels. Our cultural diversity is an invaluable heritage, and various cultures will find their own special ways to realize this worldview. We must deepen and expand the global dialogue that the Earth Charter initiates, for we have much to learn from our shared search for truth and wisdom.


In life there is often tension between important values. This can make the choice difficult. However, we must find ways to harmonize diversity with uniqueness, freedom with public good, short-term goals with long-term goals. Every individual, family, organization and community has a vital role to play important role. Arts, sciences, religions, education systems, means mass media, business, non-governmental organizations and governments are all called upon to offer creative leadership. Cooperation between government, civil society and business is essential for good governance.


In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitments to the UN, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements and support the implementation of the principles of the Earth Charter through binding international legal frameworks in the field of environment and development.


Let ours be a time that will be remembered as a period of renewed reverence for life, determination to achieve sustainability, stimulating the struggle for justice and peace and a jubilant celebration of life.


*This text is for information purposes only and is not an official reproduction of a UNESCO document. The original is on the website: http://www.earthcharter.org/


HOW IT WAS


DECLARATION OF LAND


As you know, on December 10 the whole world celebrates an outstanding date - the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is difficult to overestimate the role it played in achieving the progress of mankind. But life does not stand still, and humanity is faced with the problem of a global environmental crisis that threatens its very existence. In this regard, in 1992 A special UN conference on environment and development was held, at which the heads of state and government of 140 countries approved humanity’s global plan for sustainable development (Agenda 21), including the development of principles for the relationship between man and nature. In 1995 opened under the auspices of UNESCO international project on the development of the Earth Declaration. The idea of ​​preparing such a Code of Conduct for Nations and States in the spirit of respect for the rights of the Earth arose in connection with the need to preserve the biosphere - the only home for people. Further development of civilization can only occur in accordance with the laws of Nature. At the Rio+5 conference, the Commission on the Earth Declaration adopted the latest version as the basis for further consultations and the formation of a truly “people's” document, with broad involvement in the process of its preparation of governments, environmental, women's, youth, peacekeeping and other non-governmental organizations, small nations, representatives of scientific and business circles.



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