More often than usual, with breaking news reports of floods, blizzards, snow storms, earthquakes, a solar eclipse — visible across the USA — and recent geological occurrences, Planet Earth seems a topic of focus and for multitudes the center of attention for an entire weekend.
Traditionally, the Blue Planet gets an entire day of honor on April 22 for Americans to repudiate industry and their contribution to dumping toxic sewage, pesticides and garbage that pollute the planet.
This year, Earth Day marks the 54th anniversary of an awareness with an entire weekend tagged by an official theme “Planet vs. Plastics.”
Since its launch a little over half a century ago, a global campaign adopted by 193 nations to foster empowerment and recognition of the wonders of Mother Earth, the time-frame annually promotes plants, animals, natural resources while fighting pollution, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.
Here, at Union Square in Manhattan where on April 22, 1970 more than 100,000 New Yorkers celebrated the inaugural observance, added concerns offer a plethora of activities slated for an urgent call to action for environmental justice.
Exhibits, interactive workshops, deejays, food and a festival dominated by green guardians is expected to provide botanicals for preservation of a clean, sustainable environment.
“Plastic is Wack” kicks off at noon on April 21 inside the 14th St. East side plaza for a united appeal to repair the universe.
A free and open space promise family-friendly — noon to 6 p.m. — comraderie featuring a fashion show, bookswap, art display, and speaker’s bureau.
Elsewhere at LG Life’s Good Earth Day Fair at 111 Sylvan Ave. a treat begins at high noon.
At Rockefeller State Park Preserve festivities start at 11 a.m.
On Randall’s Island a bike ride rolls at 11 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson Park.
Little Caribbean Earth Day festivities commence at Empire Blvd. & Washington Ave. with an 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. commemoration on April 21.
During Mayor Eric Adams’ 2024 state of the city address at the beginning of the year, he said: “We are excited to announce a new investment in $100 million for the Climate Innovation Hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal…turning Sunset Park into a center for clean tech innovation and manufacturing.”
Crediting his administration for establishing a Green Economy Action Plan, the three-year, first term, city administrator detailed accomplishments he has managed in all five boroughs.
“Staten Island is no longer “the forgotten borough,” he boasted, “the harbor of the future includes the North Shore where we are building a vibrant mixed-use waterfront community that will explore new kinds of urban designs.”
He added; “we built more parks, paths, and recreation space; got garbage bags off our streets and into bins and removed unsightly scaffolding that has darkened our doors and blocked our views.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul bragged her accomplishments saying during her tenure she had issued clean energy proposals.
During her state address, she said: “Energy affordability will continue to be a top priority of my climate change agenda because we need to combat climate change and protect all New Yorkers.”
She also mentioned an aim of planting 25 million trees by 2033.
In her address she admitted to introducing — the Affordable Gas Transition Act — to support responsible, equitable and effective gas system transition planning.
Throughout the state every county seems to be mobilized for rain or shine eventful comemmorations.
Catch you On the Inside!
