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Earth Day 2026: Our Power, Our Planet

Mar 31, 2026 09:26AM ● By Sandra Yeyati

Communities worldwide will come together from Saturday, April 18, through Earth Day, the 22nd, to celebrate this year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”—a rallying cry for people everywhere to reclaim their voice, their rights and their future. Since its inception, this event has mobilized international involvement, and this year is no different as more than 1 billion environmental champions are expected to participate.

“All those years ago, in 1970, we were ridiculously confident that we were going to win,” says Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day and board chair emeritus of the nonprofit EarthDay.org. “We launched a genuine environmental revolution. We proved that an engaged public can be an unstoppable force. It can be again in 2026.”

People working together can change the world. Illustrating this vast scope of influence, an interactive, digital map on EarthDay.org lists events across all continents. From city parks to coastal villages, volunteers will clean riverbanks, plant trees and host workshops on recycling and sustainable living. Families will involve their children by crafting bird feeders from recycled materials and painting murals of forests and wildlife. New opportunities for fun and service are continually coming online, and anyone can add their event to the map.

At Action.EarthDay.org/our-power-our-planet-pledge individuals can formally resolve to stand up for environmental protections in local communities, support the transition to clean energy and green jobs, demand that leaders prioritize human and planetary health, and take eco-friendly action throughout the year and beyond. Now is the time to be part of the solutions.

According to organizers, “Since 1970, people from every walk of life—farmers and ranchers, faith leaders and scientists, health professionals and first responders, students and families, and communities on the front lines of climate disasters—have driven action that prevented countless illnesses and saved millions of lives worldwide. Economic prosperities and environmental protections are not competing goals. They are on the same path forward. Clean energy and sustainability have already created millions of jobs, lowered costs and delivered healthier air and water.”


In-Print, Green Living sustainability National Content Sustainable Living April 2026

 

 

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Tick Tackler

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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