“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth … these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security, and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” B-KM
April 22, 2022
Greetings Unity College Colleagues,
This year we celebrate the 52nd annual Earth Day. As America’s Environmental College, Earth Day has always been an important part of Unity College’s identity. This year, Unity College is hosting our very own #UnityCollegeEarthDayChallenge and all month long we have been sharing tips to help make every day Earth Day.
The #UnityCollegeEarthDayChallenge challenges our students, faculty, and staff to participate in any Earth Day activity on April 22nd and then share a video or picture of it to our Instagram tagging @unitycollege. There will be prizes for best photo, most unique Earth Day activity, and best zero waste hack. Winners will be announced on April 26th. I look forward to seeing all the photos and videos!
According to the United Nations, “climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity”. It impacts where we can live, where our children can go to school, how and what we have for food, the air we breathe and even our mental health. This is why Earth Day is so important. It is a reminder that we have one planet, one place to call home, and we need to take care of our home every single day.
I implore you to make every day Earth Day by taking small steps toward creating a more sustainable planet. Here are some examples of the little things you can do to make a big difference.
- Keep our re-useable bags in the car, so they are always near us.
- Use earth-friendly cleaning products in our homes, offices, and schools.
- Grow our own vegetables and donate or compost the produce we don’t consume.
- Choose local products when available.
- Plant bee and other pollinator-friendly gardens.
If we are truly going to bring about long-lasting change and meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accords, we need to educate those around us on the realities and impacts of climate change, including the people in charge of our countries, our corporations, and our foundations.
We have one planet to share and one planet to pass on to future generations. The 52nd annual Earth Day reminds us that we need to take care of our planet. Be kind to the earth and those who live on it, and most importantly, we need to make that a habit, not just on Earth Day but every day.
With Pride,
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
