Earth Day 2021

Rome (Italy). On 22 April 2021, the 51^st International Mother Earth Day is celebrated, instituted by the UN in 1970 to highlight the need for the conservation of the natural resources of the Earth, recognizing everyone’s responsibility in promoting harmony with nature and with the Earth in order to reach a balance between the economic, social, and environmental needs of the present and future generations.

The theme of the Day 2021, “Restore our Earth”, focuses on natural processes, on environmental technologies, and on the change of mentality that require us to personally commit ourselves to “restore the natural beauty of the Earth”, the common home in which we  live.

How can we restore a harmonious relationship with the earth and the rest of humanity? Pope Francis on April 22, 2020, in the Catechesis on the occasion of the 50th  World Day of the Earth, urged not to lose the vision of harmony that is the work of the Holy Spirit and suggested a new way of looking at the common home, which is not a deposit of resources to be exploited, “For us believers, the natural world is the ‘Gospel of Creation’. It expresses God’s creative power in fashioning human life and bringing the world and all it contains into existence, in order to sustain humanity. … we are called to renew our sense of sacred respect for the earth, for it is not just our home but also God’s home. This should make us all the more aware that we stand on holy ground!”

In announcing the special year dedicated to Laudato Sì, the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, reminds us that “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents (LS, 14)”, and proposed the involvement of the whole Catholic world in a process of ecological conversion. Among the initiatives, the formation course for Laudato Si’ Animators, organized by the World Catholic Climate Movement on the need to prepare local leaders who are committed to living the Encyclical in everyday life, motivating their communities, and carrying out concrete actions to take care of creation, in which some Daughters of Mary Help of Christians also participate.

To celebrate the International Mother Earth Day, 22 April 2021, among the many initiatives organized around the world, the multimedia marathon is renewed #OnePeopleOnePlanet, with contents of cultural value that appeal to unity, in which young people will have a space dedicated to their environmental sensitivity. Organized by Earth Day Italy and the Focolare Movement, the marathon on environmental issues also presents the initiatives implemented by citizens, schools, associations, and businesses to promote sustainable development.