Earth Day Network Blog Updates

As winter approaches and temperatures drop in the northern hemisphere, we’re more easily distracted from the effects of climate change in our planet’s colder regions. But this should be sobering: The United Nations Environment Programme released a report today about how the thawing of permafrost will cause additional climate change across the globe, as early as 2100.

This past week, representatives from Earth Day Network were in San Antonio, Texas, at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention to promote the first annual Healthy and Sustainable School Food Journalism Awards. 

By EDN India volunteer Diptayan Roy.

It’s been two years since the environmental disaster that was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and today we finally have news of a settlement. From the Washington Post we learn that BP has agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter, environmental crimes and obstruction of Congress. BP will also be paying $4 billion in penalties.

The results are in for our student poster contest in honor of National School Lunch Week!

As part of Earth Day Network’s Green Schools Program, our National School Lunch Week campaign promotes the importance of health, nutrition and sustainable food production to U.S. K-12 students, parents, teachers and policymakers.

Few media are as effective at conveying a message as film, especially to a young audience. That’s why Earth Day Network India collaborated with Shishu Kishore Akademi and Bichitra Pathshala to conduct a workshop on the basics of environmental filmmaking for children of ten Government and non-formal schools in Kolkata from November 2 – 5, 2012.

In a sign that Americans understand the connection between clean energy and new jobs and are ready to take on big business in order to secure a clean energy future, Californians rallied to easily pass Prop 39 last night.

The initiative could bring in $1 billion dollars – half of which would go toward energy-efficiency and clean–energy projects at public buildings and schools – by closing a tax loophole for out-of-state corporations.

The piece below originally appeared in the Seattle Times.

For over two years, A Billion Acts of Green® has been steadily building commitments by individuals, organizations, businesses and governments to protect the planet, inspiring and rewarding both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability.

Taken together, these seemingly small actions add up to big dividends for the planet. And A Billion Acts of Green® has become the largest environmental service campaign in the world.

By Neela Majumdar

In Kolkata, the week-long festival of Durga Puja makes the whole city feel magical with incredibly beautiful temporary temples everywhere. These intricately-decorated structures are called “pandals.”

Durga Puja is a time when the whole city comes alive, with millions of people from all over the world visiting the pandals around the clock.