A Message from EarthDay.org

March 20, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic does not shut us down. Instead, it reminds us of what’s at stake in our fight for the planet. On December 24, 1968, astronauts on the moon took the first full color photo of the Earth. This photo, titled “Earthrise,” showed us both strength and fragility of our planet while helping launch the modern environmental movement. That movement took a historic step forward just over a year after that photo, when 20 million people turned out for the world’s first Earth Day.

Human health and planetary health are inextricably linked. To protect one, we must protect the other. Millions rallied behind this idea to create the first Earth Day in 1970, and, 50 years later, we must rally behind it again.

On April 22, join us as we EARTHRISE, a global digital mobilization that drives actions big and small, gives diverse voices a platform and demands bold action for people and planet. Over 24 hours, EARTHRISE will fill the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more. While Earth Day may be going digital our goal remains the same: to mobilize the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference. Below are ways to participate:

SPEAK: Exercise your right to express, promote and defend your ideas. While we may not be able to assemble in-person, we can still create a mass outcry and a mass outpouring of support online.

• Take action: Share what you’re doing, today and from where you are: What are you fighting for — it could be for your children, for frontline communities, for safe water to drink. What compels you to act, and why are you in this fight?

• Add your voice to this global demand for action with #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE.

ACT: Everyone can do something. Join us on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day — April 22 — as we issue 24 actions for the planet that you can take now, wherever you are.

• Take action: Join us on earthday.org and on @earthdaynetwork on social media for 24 hours of action with EARTHRISE. Every hour, on the hour, we’ll have a new, powerful way for you to demand action and drive change.

VOTE: More than 65 countries host major elections in 2020. Make your demands known by voting for those who will defend the planet.

• No elections in your country? Too young to vote? Demand change with civic action — call your representatives, tweet at your policymakers, volunteer for a candidate. There are so many ways to tell your leaders that human and planetary health must be the top political priority.

• Take action: Send a message to your leaders on April 22, and get registered, educated and ready to vote in your elections in 2020. Throughout April, earthday.org will have ways to get involved in local, state and national politics as we launch our Vote Earth campaign.

EDUCATE: The first Earth Day seized the power of education through campus-wide teach-ins that sparked conversation, engaged local communities and informed change. Now, as Earth Day goes digital, we’re bringing teach-ins to a global scale. Some of the world’s most inspiring musicians, artists, scientists and thought leaders will use digital teach-ins to share their experience, expertise and lessons to a global audience across the 24 hours of EARTHRISE.

• Take action: We need you to share your knowledge and wisdom as well. Bring your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors into this global digital conversation to share what you’re doing locally to meet this global crisis. And tune into EARTHRISE as we release 12 digital teach-ins from some of the world’s most inspiring voices for change.

While coronavirus may physically distance us, it will not silence or divide us. Through the power of digital media, we’re more connected than ever. On Earth Day 2020, we seize all the tools and actions that we have, big and small, to change our lives and change our world, not for one day, but forever.