Earth Day 2013

Linked with the birth of the modern environmental movement, Earth Day has been observed every April 22nd since the year 1970. Grassroots efforts around the world on Earth Day are meant to highlight protecting the planet. According to the Earth Day Network, this year more than a billion people in 192 countries will observe Earth Day - making it the largest secular observance worldwide.

This year's Earth Day motto is 'The Face of Climate Change'. The idea is to show the individuals who are personally affected by the problems of climate change. Planting trees, like these three kids are doing in Nigeria, is a simple act that can make a difference in areas suffering from deforestation. Trees draw carbon out of the atmosphere, helping in the battle against climate change.

In India, locals are also confronted by many environmental challenges caused by a changing climate, including how to sustainably support a growing population of more than a billion people. These Indian children are holding up their right hands painted green as a symbol of environmental solidarity at an Earth Day event.

Many Earth Day projects tackle waste management too. Almost half of the plastic produced worldwide today gets thrown away. While plastic that goes to landfills is at least contained, a large amount also ends up in the oceans. Marine animals often mistake it for food and eat it, only to then suffer painful deaths. Here, students work on the problem by gathering trash from a coral reef in Belize.

Re-using and recycling packaging to prevent it from ending up in landfills is a crucial way to reduce the world's waste. Here, children in Serbia are collecting used cans as part of an Earth Day event. Infrastructure for such programs is still lacking in many parts of the world, a situation that highlights the link between development and environmental protection.

Women play an important role in fostering environmental consciousness. As children's primary caregivers and still the main keepers of the home worldwide, women have an opportunity to make many choices that can result in a more sustainable lifestyle. Here, Iraqi women observe Earth Day by planting trees to help green their neighborhood.

Although water is a vital resource, it's becoming increasingly scarce worldwide - due partly to climate change, which melts glaciers and causes drought. As with solid waste, reducing and recycling is one way to conserve dwindling water resources. This giant raindrop formed by activists in Canada is meant to raise awareness about the vast amounts of water used in electricity production.

It's also important to keep in mind where the items you consume come from. These children in Fiji plant fresh produce to share the message that sustainability starts at home. Maintaining a garden can act as a reminder that ultimately, every day should be Earth Day.