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Earth Day
简体
Earth Day
世界地球日

Learn English with this environment English lesson

Date: Apr 22 2013

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: Imperative Form

Intro

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On April 22, almost 200 countries around the world celebrate Earth Day. On this day, people show their support for protecting the environment and the earth’s resources. People hold demonstrations, create festivals, and celebrate the earth while educating the public about environmental issues.

But are you shortchanging the earth when you only give it one day? Rather than dedicating one day to celebrating the earth, would it be better to have an earth month, or even to make a vow to support the earth every day? Find out what Mason and Lily think in this environment English lesson.

每到 4 月 22 日,全球近 200 个国家和地区都会庆祝“世界地球日”。在这天,人们会表达自己对保护环境和地球资源的支持。他们在街头游行、举办庆祝活动,并在赞美地球的同时,向公众宣传环境问题。

但只把这一天献给地球,是不是还远不够?与其只用一天庆祝地球日,不如设立一个“地球月”,或者发誓每天都保护地球,这样是不是会更好?在本节以环境为话题的英语课上,看看梅森和莉莉做何感想。

Dialog

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Lily

Lily

Mason

Mason

Lily:  When did Earth Day start?

Mason:  You know, I looked it up.

Lily:  OK.

Mason:  And it started in 1970.

Lily:  But do you really need a day to plant a tree?

Mason:  There are so many days. Every day is dedicated to at least five things. So, you know, maybe if it was Earth Month? We might need to take it to that level in order to actually effect something.

Lily:  Of course, you could even take it farther than that and make it an Earth Era, if you wanted to go that route.

Mason:  Sure.

Lily:  And make people really aware of it.

Mason:  Let’s take a step back. We probably don’t have the right historical context.

Lily:  OK.

Mason:  1970, it’s been over 40 years that people have been talking about environmental awareness and stuff. So we probably take it way more for granted than people in 1970 did that you actually need to start talking about sustainability and recycling and pollution and stuff like that. I don’t know if there are any official Earth Day traditions.

Lily:  Well yeah. I think at least what I always visualize whenever I think of Earth Day, because I grew up in a college town that was kind of hippie-ish, is they always have this celebration where they would plant a tree and it would be really exciting. It would be wonderful. And then there would be new trees all over the place. And people would dance in circles and sing about the earth.

 

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Discussion

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Lily and Mason are interested in the origins of Earth Day, but they don’t know if it’s an important holiday. It might not be that effective to just have a day dedicated to celebrating the earth. Should the focus on the planet be longer than just a day?

Mason points out that when Earth Day started not that many people knew about environmental awareness. It’s important to have historical context. And Lily shares that Earth Day was a celebration in a town where she grew up. There were demonstrations, and people planted trees and sang songs.

Is Earth Day celebrated in your country? Do you think it’s an important holiday? Do you think holidays should be created to celebrate every occasion?

 

Comments

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Staisy

Staisy

Russian Federation

I have heard about this holiday before reading the text.  And I know there are many other days in the calendar, dedicated to nature celebrations.


But here in Russia  people dont pay any attention  to it. Maybe because they have their own troubles  and problems to think about on the first place. Although everyone knows how much important is it to keep and protect environment, only few  people are ready to do something for it  and to take part in ecological initiatives. I think such indifference will not lead to anything good.

10:16 AM Nov 24 2013 |

1 person likes this

modaher

modaher

Iraq

I wish you happy times

08:03 PM Apr 25 2013 |

LiJie

LiJie

China

I had  no idea about Earth Day before I saw this lesson. In China, we have Arbor Day that is someday of middle of March. In that day, teachers and students play trees in parks or mountains,and make a disscussion about the meaning of protecing environment , and stuff like that.


I often heared about scandles of pollution in our country,for example, killing wild animals for eating or fur , throwing pig carcasses into the river, cutting trees. Since those of pollution occur around us almost every day, so that we come to take them for granted, even do the same things oneday. 


Earth Day is a warring to us, it reminds of us protecting environment.    

03:10 PM Apr 24 2013 |

1 person likes this

yuminaga

yuminagaSuper Member!

China

Too bad ,even i dont know at all !

11:26 PM Apr 22 2013 |

2 people like this

tiara2tiara

Philippines

Firstly, I am a nature lover. I’m always mindful about my actions as well as people’s. For some, they need to be able to consider the fact that taking care of the earth is the best that we could do to sustain our life here on hearth. Global warming is constantly being talked about and it’s deliberately killing earth. I just wish that people would conscientiously think about this. Living is wonderful but acting on life is far taken way more for granted.

10:48 PM Apr 22 2013 |

TranceSoul

TranceSoul

Poland

There is celebrated Earth Day in Poland and it is an important holiday for me, I don’t know if for others…


When I read Nijan’s comment I just saw that all what we can see in the song of  Michael Jackson called” Earth ” and tears welled up in my eyes.


We don’t think about it every day but every day we destroy our planet.

08:29 PM Apr 22 2013 |

modaher

modaher

Iraq

hi brother

07:58 PM Apr 22 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

 Dear Nijar, thank you for your wise input on the matter. Yesterday in  a northern province of   our country a meteorite  exploded and burned up  70 kilometers above ground , several videos  are on the web on   that  frightening  moment, should it had touched ground, a  city  could have been severely damage with heavy lost of lifes. We are fortunate that mother earth  with its atmosphere  as a protective shield  is saving  us  from caos and destruction .  About the man on my  profile , it´s me , in Seattle, washington state…

07:26 PM Apr 22 2013 |

mosa90

mosa90

Saudi Arabia

good idea to raise awareness about the Environmental pollution

07:23 PM Apr 22 2013 |

Erise

Erise

Poland

” If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish”- Jonas Salk



I agree here with the author of the quotation, but not in  disappearing of humanity. I totally agree with the statement that earth can perfectly rebuilt itself. Mother Nature has proven her unique cure abilities for many times. Just give her a time and peace and she will weave up completely barren places  with life, places which are  results of human activity.


There is not that much danger for nature, there is immense danger for humanity.


Awareness of present danger must be taken to another level. People are not destroying the earth they are definitely destroying humanity.


The list of threats is well known.

07:04 PM Apr 22 2013 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

yeah in my country we celebrate earth day although it’s not a holiday.

06:00 PM Apr 22 2013 |

Nijar

Nijar

Egypt


When I looked at the picture, I smelled  the soil scent(sure I did)!!


Allah has created this world, colored it and exploited it to serve human. The highest huge mountains, hills, desert, the colorful roses, butterflies, the green grass, the blue seas, oceans …etc, all of that and more have been made to comfort our hearts, eyes, and live in healthy(I still remember that lesson which taught me that the green plants and more pump out oxygen( which we need to keep breathing), and absorb carbon. Oo, guys if that’s right(that is 100% right), so what we do with ourselves; do we want to stop breathing and die?!


Cut the trees, pollute the air, water, kill animals for fur, all of these actions and more-which the human did, do and will do- will get our final. If we have such a file on PC, and want to get rid of it, immediately will send it to the recycle bin-okay-so what about the real life; why people be lazy to put the rubbish in their suitable place? Old paper, cans, bottles, we can reuse them. Why we always follow the easy way?!


There are some celebs which in my opinion nice to be during the year such as; Mum Day, Earth Day, Teacher Day, Sport Day, Love Day, Fun Day, Peace Day.. etc, and that the civil behavior not only belong  to our education, but also our inner respective feeling towards our environment(plants, animals, human and others). We have a big garden, once I held up the axe and dug(plough) the soil, I still remember that pretty scent which came out; whatever the axe was heavy, I enjoyed it and watching the guardian decorations! Keep those in your mind: Enjoy, Adore, Respect, Thank, Humanity=EARTH..


Mr julito, I believe in mother always caring about her children and not getting rid of them  in the street.. hehe. One thing later , please tell the man who in your profile that he’s lucky sitting under the wide sky, bright sun surrounding with the trees and the green carpet under his feet, enjoy the fresh air.. hehe.


Doe Moriza, your white dress which mixed with your descent smile reflect the beauty of our environment(the environment which we all look forward it; clean, pure one)


Dear Ola, I loved the Muddy Day, whatever I advice them to wash their clothes with  ”Persil” and take a path after finish ..HEEE


 


Happy Earth Day                                


05:57 PM Apr 22 2013 |

struggling

struggling

Tunisia

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” 
 Mahatma Gandhi

05:32 PM Apr 22 2013 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

The idea of an earth day is okay, to draw attention about support for environmental protection and the consumer behavior.
But I afraid, at the next day, a lot of people are going back to their daily routine. This is a pitty.

02:38 PM Apr 22 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

In ancient native american indian cultures  it was   revered the mother earth ,   the indigenous people of the andes  did the same.  each year in the northern part of our country a huge festival is held  honoring the PACHAMAMA, or mother earth , a goddess  that protects the harvest and fertility. We need more and more awareness  that  unless we start taking care  of our enviroment , the mother earth tired with our negligence will kick us out  to the outer space , lol…..

12:07 PM Apr 22 2013 |

CyrilCui

CyrilCui

China

I have participated in a environment related league before,and I know there is a holiday named Earth Day on April 22.It is a international holiday,but it isn’t popular in China.Most Chinese don’t know Earth Day ,but we have Arbor Day on March 22.In Arbor Day,more and more citizens go into parks and suburbs to plant tres.It has become a tradition for primary school students to plant trees in that holiday.


I believe everything in the world has its meaning to exist.Even though one day is so short,but we can affect many people,especially primary school students and make them know it is important to protect our environment and earth.Education is very important.


I don’t think holidays should be created to celebrate every occasion.Some of the holidays are very important and should be remembered,such as International Labor Day and Teacher’s Day and so on.No one pay attention to the holidays which can’t bring us anything,and everyone thinks they are boring and meaningless.


The important thing is not how we treat these holidays, but how to use them and make our lives and world better and better!

11:22 AM Apr 22 2013 |

3emma3

3emma3

Iraq

Earth Day is an amazing tittle but what does it mean? Does it mean that we have to plant a tree here or there or do some trivial activities to support environmental issues? Then after that day or even in the same day there are bombs, heavy industry and so and so…..just to damage this poor earth. I dont like such resonant tittles with illusive meaning.  

09:36 AM Apr 22 2013 |

1 person likes this

Moriza

Moriza

Ukraine

There are a number of activities we can do to keep the spirit of the Earth Day alive all year long.We know what should do to protect the Earth,but we still continue to pollute it.


“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,we will realise that we can,t eat money”.


lyn lu

lyn lu

China

I am so regret that we don’t have that holiday in my country,even that I have never heared about it until today. You know,a powerful earthquake at magnitude 7.0 occured in china on April 20,in Sichuan Province again.Many people die and a lot of people injured in that disastor.I am so sad about that.I think  earth environment protectism is much more important than anything others now.

09:06 AM Apr 22 2013 |

Orchestra

Orchestra

Russian Federation

Hmm.. I’d say my views on it are quite mixed. Certainly, it’s a great stuff that people all over the globe are kind of getting and puttting their efforts together pushed by one urge towards making our planet better. However, how much effect it might have is called in question, as for me. Decisive strong measurements aimed to prevent pollution and excessive usage of resources as well as to reward alternative rational and wise way of living and consuming that authorities could have brought up, that’s what is the true effective tool of making the planet better.


Unfortunately, in accrodance with my own notices, the majority of people don’t care about even their own future and follow the rule “after us the deluge”. They would act in the most easy way like “i’ll just drop a cig on a floor and I don’t care a bean I’ve got a trash bin few steps further”. What’s more, our devoted pollitics feel free to appeal quite the same proclaiming their views on, for instance, hydrocarbons production programs.  The rest of us retain to be so naive, that they’re sure they will save the planet with a pair of fur coats toren, a tree planted or a day of international “raising awarenes” hold. Animals are disappearing, the planet’s growing poor and unhealthy, but we’re going on sining and clapping our hands in honor of Mother Earth. My teacher in the university keeps always saying pretty clever thing: “If you’re attacked by a robber in a dark corner, it’s not worth trying to expalin him he’s doing wrong and encouraging him to change his mind and way of living. You should just fight or run away, defend your life and property”. 


P.S. Please, don’t take me as an extremist. I’m just a simple guy who wants the world to get better like all you do)))

08:31 AM Apr 22 2013 |

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