Every individual in the world counts when it comes to creating a
brighter, greener future for the Earth.
The idealism of youth from that very first Earth Day on April
22, 1970 sparked interest for a life-long commitment to cherishing
the Earth and keeping it vibrant.
It has become a day to celebrate Mother Earth's web of life and
seek unity in protecting it. A growing number of people are
recognizing how serious the threats are.
Scientists have sounded the alarm on global warming and named
human behavior as the cause. The solutions to the problem are not
only in the hands of scientists and politicians but in the hands of
each individual.
Earth Day reminds us that we are all members of a community -
not just our local community but a greater community that embraces
the whole world and everything in it.
No country can escape the impacts that global change will exert
on the Earth. As a result, we need worldwide unity to address the
challenge.
We have caused the problem, and we have it within ourselves to
create solutions. The way to a brighter future lies in sharing our
knowledge and our dreams. When people lead, their government and
industry will follow.
With each decision we make, we consciously contribute to the
creation of our individual and collective futures. We need to be
mindful of the important things in life and help change our world
for the better.
Earth Day is the time to understand the environment and the
intricacies of its ecosystems, to conserve our natural resources,
and advocate protecting the environment.
We have a long journey ahead to embrace a lifestyle that makes
our homes, places of work and communities more in harmony with the
environment. The first move can be as simple as looking at our own
consumer behavior.
It is time to make a commitment to tread more lightly on the
earth. Actions are needed so that Earth Day will not become another
annual day full of false promises and empty pledges.
Start today to help build a better future for the world through
individual and community action on a year-round basis.
(China Daily April 23, 2007)
