Earth Week 2016 … kickin’ it since the 70’s

It’s coming! It’s coming! Earth Week 2016! It’s actually just Earth Day, but we stretch it to a week since it’s that big a deal. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s happening at UHN, but there’s lots more for everyone, everywhere to get in on the action.

There’s a tremendous, stupendous, horrendous amount of action required to fight this here thing called Climate Change, so Earth Day is getting more and more important. Celebrated on April 22 since 1970, it’s only a few years away from turning 50 (but doesn’t look a day over 29).

Though having a day to celebrate our shared planet reminds us to turn up the eco-friendly-action-dial, the point is to walk the talk all month, year, decade and life. We here at Talkin’ Trash have come up with a few good ideas here and here (and here and here and here).

This year, there is a special request based on the theme “Trees for the Earth”. Why trees? From EarthDay.org:

Trees help combat climate change.
They absorb excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles.

Trees help us breathe clean air.
Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.

Trees help communities.
Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income.

Plant a tree. Activate your friends and social networks.

We can do this. #trees4earth

Just a few years ago, 2012 to be exact, we had a Trees for Toonies event during Earth Week. At that time, we sold hundreds of evergreen seedlings across UHN. My seedlings have turned into mini trees (picture coming soon). I’d love to see how yours are doing so email me a pic at energyandenvironment@uhn.ca.