With Messages, Pledges And Promises, Mother Earth Found Ample Support Among Netizens On The Occasion Of Earth Day

New Delhi: From requesting people to curb the use of plastic to asking them to strengthen their resolve to make the earth a better place, celebrities, sportspersons and politicians took to Twitter to celebrate Earth Day, and give a gentle reminder on why the Earth needs to be taken care of. This year’s Earth Day theme is End Plastic Pollution as the global plastic waste crisis continues to choke the planet. In India, more than 40,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated daily, of which 60 per cent is recycled and the rest ends up in landfills, rivers or lakes, choking the country’s entire ecosystem.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the reaffirming commitment towards creating a better planet for the future generation. In his tweet, PM Modi said that the menace of climate change can only be countered by working together. The Prime Minister also complimented organisations which are working towards promoting harmony with nature and ensuring sustainable development.

Union Minister for Health Jagat Prakash Nadda urged people to curb the use of plastics and polythene daily for Earth’s well-being. Plastic is non-biodegradable, thus it makes it non-compostable, so disposing it carelessly pollutes soil and water.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also tweeted on the occasion of Earth Day, stating that in Andhra Pradesh’s new capital Amaravati, the state government has focused on providing green cover, promoting electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances to make the city eco-friendly.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar pointed out that the key action points to save the Earth were save electricity, conserve water and segregate and recycle waste. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia also tweeted on the occasion, asking people to come together and work towards sustainable development in India.

Former cricketer VVS Laxman also marked the occasion of Earth Day by announcing that days like these are gentle reminders to strengthen our resolve and make the earth a better place to live in.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh supporting the Earth Day initiative,  said that we must make an effort to cut down on plastic products as much as possible, while urging everyone to keep the environment safe.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan also showed his support for Earth Day, stating that small contributions from everyone will make the world a healthier and cleaner place.

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh also urged people to pledge for a healthier Earth by saying no to plastic.

Actor Dia Mirza, who is the UN Environment’s Goodwill Ambassador for India took to Twitter to pledge to beat plastic pollution and say no to single use plastics. The actor also participated in a beach cleanup on Earth Day at the Dadar beach in Mumbai, along with Shiv Sena politician Aditya Thackeray.

Actor Randeep Hooda took a slightly different route and instead of a regular message, put up a popular meme as a tweet to signify the importance of saying no to plastics.

Anushka Sharma also expressed how disheartened she was to see plastic causing destruction of wildlife. She urged people to wake up, act and put an end to the plastic menace now.

Actor Juhi Chawla, who has been vocal on social media about environmental concerns, put up a post urging people to do their bit and curb the plastic problem.

Artist Sudarshan Pattnaik, renowned for his sand art, created a 3D sand art at Puri with the message ‘Stop pollution, Save earth.’ Mr Pattnaik has been at the forefront of spreading the word on the importance of environmental consciousness via his sand art.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, known for his Rally for Rivers campaign, tweeted saying that a lack of human consciousness was the reason for Earth’s potential expiry date, and urged people to act now to save the planet.

Earth Day 2018’s theme End Plastic Pollution comes at a time when the world  is struggling to tackle the plastic menace. Discarded plastic waste has become a headache for the world at large as landfills, oceans, rivers and lakes are filling up with plastic waste, severely hampering human, animal and marine life. Lessening individual usage and consumption of plastic items is one of the steps that can make a gradual impact and help the Earth recover from drowning into a sea of plastic.

Also Read: Pledges, Promises and Clean-ups: A Group Of Mumbaikars Ready Themselves To Celebrate Earth Day