June 8th is Clean Air Day... in Canada. Why Not Also in US?
June 8th is Canada’s annual Clean Air Day, a day dedicated to celebrating environmentally-friendly activities that promote clean air and good health across Canada.
What started out as a provincial holiday in 1992 has been sweeping throughout Canada ever since.
Clean Air Day is intended to encourage people to make clean air choices — not just on Clean Air Day, but as lifelong habits. The event helps Canadians understand more about serious air quality and environmental issues. These include smog, fine particulates, ozone depletion and global climate change.
Is Canada the only country with air quality issues? I would seriously doubt that.
Why isn’t the United States, and their countries jumping on Clean Air Day?
Surely our air quality is worse than Canada’s.
They have even created teacher’s guides to help school’s promote the holiday, complete with Air Quality superheroes, known as the Clean Air Crusaders (the Winged Wonder, the Green Protector and Captain Air). These characters help children get involved with the event.
Earth Day is a great event. However, I think each month should have one “holiday” dedicated to a specific environmental issue-to help narrow the focus.
- Air Quality Day is certainly one.
- Clean Water Day can be another.
- Energy Efficiency Day still another.
By breaking down environmental initiatives into small, one day events, communities, utilities, schools and corporations can better get involved in education and outreach. Earth Day comes and goes so quickly that its impact cannot reach all facets of environmental improvement.
A series of 12 one day eco-holidays would have much greater impact, and make it easier to come up with a curriculum, characters and mascots, themes and outreach and education campaigns.
What other one day events and holidays would you create? Please let me know.
Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today.
