Skip to main content

Earth Day 2025: Our Power, Our Planet

Mar 31, 2025 09:26AM ● By Sandra Yeyati
the earth

Vectorig from Getty Images Signature/CanvaPro

April 22 marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, the worldwide annual event that fosters environmental awareness and champions conservation initiatives designed to curb the ravages of climate change. This year’s theme—Our Power, Our Planet—invites 1 billion supporters in 192 countries to unite behind renewable energy with the goal of tripling the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.

“For years, we have been fed the lie that only fossil fuels can power the planet. That is not true,” says Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day and board chair emeritus of EarthDay.org. “By the 2030s, the largest source of electricity generation on the planet will be solar power.”

Our reliance on fossil fuels for energy has had dire consequences, releasing greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals that drive climate change, pollute the environment and threaten human health. According to EarthDay.org, cutting greenhouse gas emissions diminishes the risk of heatwaves, floods and the spread of infectious diseases. A reduction in air pollution is also expected to decrease respiratory and cardiovascular diseases such as asthma and strokes.

The technology already exists to meet global energy needs with clean, affordable and renewable power from solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and hydro sources—all of which can be stored in batteries and fuel cells. Wind and solar have become the most cost-effective sources of power, surpassing traditional fossil fuels in affordability. Renewable energy represents a huge economic opportunity estimated to create 14 million new jobs globally, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization that provides data, analysis and policy recommendations on the global energy sector.

Forty-nine countries currently generate more than half of their electricity from clean sources, including Canada, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, Brazil, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, while Iceland produces virtually all of its power from renewable sources.

“We need people power to support the big switch to renewable energy,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org. “We encourage everyone to talk to your local mayor, boss, neighbors, community leaders, and local and national legislators to explore and to champion switching to renewables.”

There are multiple ways to get involved and celebrate Earth Day in our community.

In-Print, Green Living sustainability National Content Sustainable Living April 2025
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Follow Us On Facebook