June 5 — World Environment Day. It is the main environmental festival on the planet, established by the UN in 1972. But there are others: Earth Day (April 22), Car-Free Day (September 22), and Russia's Environmentalist Day (June 5). Regardless of the date, the essence is the same: to remind people that nature is not eternal. That waste does not disappear and water is not endless. Environment Day is not a day to breathe a sigh of relief and forget until next year. It is a day to start changing.Why Do We Need Environment DayEvery year, the world produces more than 2 billion tons of waste. Forests the size of Panama are being cut down. Animal species are disappearing. People are suffocating from smog. Environment Day is not just for show. It is a global flash mob: turn off the lights for an hour, collect plastic, plant a tree. But the main thing is to think. Why do I buy water in plastic? Why do I need a bag for 15 minutes? Can I ride a bike? This festival is a catalyst for personal responsibility.How Environment Day is Celebrated Around the WorldIn Australia: clean beaches of plastic, dive with scuba gear, collect waste on coral reefs. In India: plant millions of seedlings in a day (record — 50 million in 12 hours). In Germany: eco-fairs with repairing items, clothing exchange. In Kenya: ban plastic bags on this day (already banned, but on the festival — raids). In Brazil: carnival parades in costumes made of waste. In Russia: clean-up days, separate collection, lectures in parks, green flash mobs.How to Celebrate Environment Day for YourselfIt is not necessary to go to a rally. You can: return batteries and bottle caps to a special point; refuse to use a plastic coffee cup (come with your own mug); participate in separate waste collection; clean up the forest (with gloves); install a water-saving nozzle on the tap; buy a reusable water bottle; do not buy anything on this day (a day without purchases). The main thing is not to pretend that you are saving the world in ... Read more