Celebrate Earth Day in Michigan: Sustainability tips, local events

Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read
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Earth Day, April 22, is the most widely observed secular holiday in the world — a day to encourage protecting our planet's resources and to raise awareness for environmental concerns.

With Michigan's Great Lakes, inland waterways, mountains, forests, wetlands, croplands and more, we have a lot to appreciate and a lot to look after when it comes to natural resources.

The first Earth Day

"Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis — oil spills, smog, and rivers so polluted they caught fire," according to Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. "On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population at the time, took to the streets, college campuses, and hundreds of cities to protest environmental issues and demand change for our planet going forward."

The first Earth Day initiative has been recognized as the birth of the U.S. environmental movement.

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Earth Day in Michigan

This year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially proclaimed April 22 as Earth Day in Michigan.

"Each and every one of us can contribute to protecting and preserving the planet we share through individual acts such as making our next meal plant-based, using reusable bags, and reducing plastic waste," Whitmer said. "At a community level, we can adapt education systems to enhance climate and environmental literacy, advocate for climate action at our schools and workplaces, and volunteer at local environmental organizations."

In celebration of Earth Day, Michigan's EGLE department is asking Michiganders to consider the following tips to create a more sustainable Michigan:

  • Recycle single-use bags by returning them to grocery stores

  • Recycle plastics no longer needed or find other uses for containers

  • Donate unwanted clothing instead of throwing them away

  • Plant trees and native wildflower seeds and put in a rain or butterfly garden

  • Eat more vegetables, whole grains and legumes

  • Enjoy Michigan's nature: Ride a bike, take a hike, go canoeing, or kayaking

Earth Day events on Saturday, April 22

  • Oakland County Earth Day March and Rally: An Earth Day fair that will include a climate march, a rally with keynote speakers, live music and more than 50 booths. The event with be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Centennial Commons Park on Troy Street in Royal Oak.

  • Michigan Science Center: An event in partnership with Axalta will include special programming that will focus on conservation and the planet at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit. Although free tickets have sold out, Mi-Sci will open at 9 a.m. to members and 10 a.m. to the general public. Tickets can be purchased here.

  • 2023 Dequindre Cut Spring Cleanup: An annual Earth Day event to clean up the Dequindre Cut with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteers can check in at the Woodbridge, Lafayette, Gratiot, and Wilkins entrances. Register here.

  • Rouge Rescue Earth Day Cleanup: Volunteers will help clean up Fort Street Interpretive Bridge Park from 9 a.m.-noon. Register here and meet up by the large gear statue.

  • Chandler Park Cleanup: A community cleanup event with the Chandler Park Conservancy from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 12600 Chandler Park Drive, Detroit. Register here.

  • Sidewalk Detroit Earth Day Cleanup: Volunteers will meet up at 22735 Fenkell Ave., Detroit at 10 a.m. to clean up various sites. Event ends at 1 p.m. and is followed by luch and live music. Register here.

Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Celebrate Earth Day in Michigan: Sustainability tips, local events