Earth Day

April 22, 2010 is the 40th annual Earth Day.

Started by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 this day, now marked by almost every country on the planet, is a day for activities focusing on, and raising awareness of, environmental issues.

When you consider that at the time the first Earth Day was held organizations such as ITK did not exist, Inuit have reached significant milestones in raising awareness of Arctic environmental issues, and the impacts those issues have on us as a people.

We have attended, advised, and lobbied at international events such COP15 in Copenhagen. Through the Inuit Circumpolar Council we are permanent participants on the Arctic Council. We worked with the international community on the 'Arctic Climate Impact Assessment' report, "the first comprehensively researched, fully referenced, and independently reviewed evaluation of Arctic climate change and its impacts for the region and for the world". And we are a member of International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Wherever you are today please take a moment to think about your impact on the environment, locally, nationally, and globally, and do what you can to minimize that impact.

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