The purpose of these 'special' days is to make people aware of environmental problems and solutions. Be sure to share this list with your teachers, so your entire class can join the celebrations!
Arbor Day
When is it?
Arbor Day is celebrated at different times in different countries and in different states in the U.S.A. Here are some examples of when it's celebrated:
| Barbados: September 22 |
Jordan: January 15 |
| Brazil: September 21 |
Malta:
January 15 |
| China: March 12 |
Namibia: October 8 |
| Germany: April 25 |
Tunisia: November 9 |
| Holland: March 22 |
U.S.A.: Varies by state |
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What is it?
Arbor Day is a holiday celebrated worldwide in all different countries. It is a day that is used to promote the planting of trees and the care of trees.
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Where did it come from?
Arbor Day began in 1872 and has been celebrated every year since then! Julius Sterling Morton, who was from Nebraska, U.S.A. was the creator of Arbor Day. He thought that trees would enrich the soil. Later Nebraska set aside a day for planting trees. |
Other interesting facts:
Arbor Day is celebrated in many countries throughout the world. In Korea there is a Tree-Loving Week that occurs in early April. In Japan, they celebrate Greening Week in late April.
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World Day for Water (World Water Day)
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What is it?
World Day for Water is a day created by the United Nations General Assembly. The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness of the conservation and development of water resources. Each year a UN agency that has worked on water issues takes the lead in coordinating activities all around the world for World Day For Water. There is a different theme each year.
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Where did it come from?
It got its start at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
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Other interesting facts:
Each year World Day For Water has a theme. Here are some of the themes:
2007:
Coping With Water Scarcity |
2006:
Water and Culture |
2005:
Water For Life |
2004:
Water and Disasters |
2003:
Water for Future |
2002:
Water for Development |
2001:
Water for Health |
2000:
Water for the Twenty-first Century |
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Earth Day
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What is it? 
Over the years it has become a day to raise awareness about problems in the environment. Another reason for Earth Day is to remind people to help clean up the environment to help reduce problems. It is celebrated around the world by millions of people. |
Where did it come from?
Earth Day began in 1969 and has been celebrated every year since then! |
Other interesting facts:
The creator of Earth Day was a U.S. senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson. He came up with the idea to have a day set aside to teach students on college campuses about the environment.
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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What is it? 
The International Day for Biological Diversity (or World Biodiversity Day) is an international holiday created by the United Nations. The purpose of this day is to promote biodiversity issues. Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the variation of  organisms and their environments. |
Where did it come from?
It was started by the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. At first it was held on December 29 to celebrate the day the Convention on Biological Diversity began. Then in December of 2000, the date was changed to May 22, 1992. This was done to commemorate the adoption of the Convention at the Rio Earth Summit, and it was done to avoid all the other holidays in December. |
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World Environment Day
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What is it?
The United Nations uses World Environment Day (WED) to make people aware of the environment and to get people to take action. WED is hosted every year by a different city during the week of June 5.
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Where did it come from?
The World Environment Day was started by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.
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Other interesting facts:
Each year WED has a different theme and each year it is hosted by a different city. Here are some of the themes:
2007:
Melting Ice - A Hot Topic
Tromsoe, Norway |
2006:
Deserts and Desertification
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2005:
Green Cities – Plan for the Planet! |
2004:
Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive |
2003:
Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It
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2002:
Give Earth a Chance |
2001:
Connect with the World Wide Web of Life
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2000:
The Environment Millennium - Time to Act
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1999:
Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It
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1998:
For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
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1997:
For Life on Earth
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1996:
Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home |
1995:
We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment
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1994:
One Earth One Family |
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|Create a S.E.E.K. | |Sponsor a Waste-Free Lunch Day | |Earn a Certificate| |Celebrations At School| |3R's At School| |Saving Trees At School|
|Saving Electricity At School| | Saving Water At School|
"About World Water Day." World Water Day. 25 March 2007 <http://www.worldwaterday.org/page/135>.
"Arbor Day." The National Arbor Day Foundation. 25 March 2007 <http://www.arborday.org/arborday/index.cfm>.
"Arbor Day." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 25 March 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbor_day>.
Hayes, Denis. "Earth Day." World Book Online Reference Center. 2007.
25 March 2007
<http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar171620>.
"International Day for Biological Diversity." Convention for Biological Diversity. 25 March 2007 <http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/outreach/awareness/
biodiv-day-2007.shtml>.
"International Day for Biological Diversity." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 25 March 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_for_
Biological_Diversity>.
Santino, Jack. "Arbor Day." World Book Online Reference Center. 2007.
25 March 2007 <http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar027920>.
"World Day for Water." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 25 March 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Water_Day>.
"World Environment Day." World Book Online Reference Center. 2007.
25 March 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Environment_Day>.
Images
All clip art images on this page except Earth Day racoon clip art are free shareware images from My Free Clipart. 13 April 2007 <http://www.myfreeclipart.com/>.
Image of Earth Day racoon is free clip art from Kaboose. 13 April 2007. <http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/clip.html>.
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