A beautiful lady was sitting on a parched land and sobbing. Her children who had surrounded her were asking about the reason for her sorrow. She said that she was unable to breathe, was not going to be able to provide for them because her body had dried up, and would not be able to protect them from the environmental pollution anymore. The children were worried about their fate. They also started crying not knowing what they could do to save the planet from the most precious resource for mankind. How can we stop Mother Earth’s tears and offer solace to her children? We all can join hands to do our little part to protect our planet by increasing awareness of Earth Day by celebrating the day with eco-friendly activities to set an example for others.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day is celebrated in over 175 countries. The U.N. designated April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day in 2009. However, the concept of protecting Mother Earth, especially from environmental pollution, was introduced by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. As a result of these efforts, the U.S. Congress authorized the passage of the then-new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 1970 with the sole purpose of confronting environmental issues. EPA’s mission is to ensure that citizens have access to clean air, water and land, minimize environmental risk, and create policies that protect the health and well-being of all living beings. 

Importance of Earth Day

The purpose of Earth Day celebrations is to raise awareness of the need to protect Mother Earth from plunderers – those motivated by greed for personal financial gain. We all need to develop a healthy respect for preserving our natural resources for future generations. Thus, Earth Day is special for celebrating our one true home in this life. 

Mother Earth has nourished billions of species ever since she existed. Her capacity to nurture living beings continues to dazzle us with amazing sights every day. Those who have been in space describe the Earth as a blue marble, sitting alone, against the immense black void of space. It is a reminder that we are all truly one family, with just one home to preserve, so that future generations can witness in person the wonders that all of us have taken for granted – sunrise, sunset, clouds, raindrops, waves, rainbow, and mountains, to name a few. But we also realize that this wonderful world is in danger. There are extreme weather conditions that were not observed for centuries – severe drought in some areas and flooding in others, melting glaciers, and other conditions that are adversely impacting living conditions around the world.

Significance of Earth Day from a Vedic Perspective

In the Hindu culture, Mother Earth is worshipped as Bhumi Devi. One reason that Hindus see representations of the divine in rivers, mountains, elements of nature, plants, animals, and everything in nature, stems from the belief that God resides in every living creature (Bhagavad Gita: Song of God, Chapter 10). Lord Krishna tells Arjun that He is the source of every atom of creation and that everything that exists in the universe is a manifestation of His energies. 

Founded on this belief, under the able guidance of Swami Mukundananda, the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas has proudly organized Earth Day celebrations to play a small part to offer our support for our community.

Earth Day Celebrations by Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas 

Partnership with the City of Allen

Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas has partnered with the City of Allen to celebrate Earth Day by picking up litter at Allen Station Park. Residents and volunteers are invited to participate on this special day to do our little part for Mother Earth by helping in cleanup activities to set an example and enable future generations to appreciate the beauty of nature, including the parks.

Date & Time: Saturday, April 22nd from 9:00 to 11:00 AM
Location: Allen Station Park, 1120 N Cedar Dr, Allen, TX 75013

This annual city-wide effort is part of the Keep America Beautiful national project to give our communities an opportunity for spring cleaning. The Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas has officially registered to organize this event. All participants must register in advance to participate in the cleanup at Allen Station Park.

Sustainability Fair at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas

A free, collaborative event between the temple, local businesses, and community organizations has been planned with the aim to promote awareness and action toward environmental sustainability. The event will feature numerous interactive activities to learn about sustainable products and lifestyles. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain experience in sustainable practices, connect with local experts, and network with like-minded environmentally conscious individuals.

Date & Time: Saturday, April 22nd from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Location: Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (Allen), 1450 N Watters Dr, Allen, TX 75013
Activities: See RKT's Earth Day website for detailed information on various activities of the day.

Resources:

EPA Earth Day: https://www.epa.gov/earthday 
PA: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do 

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