Challenging times call for creative measures! Amid the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, Earth Day Network, the global organizer of Earth Day, has announced that it will go all-digital for the 50th anniversary of the movement. The Digital Earth Day will mark its first global digital mobilization on April 22 to address the most urgent threats to people and the planet. 

We take the health and safety of our Dive Against Debris® volunteers, fundraisers, supporters, and staff taking action for ocean protection and participating in the Earth Day 2020 celebrations very seriously.

says Danna Moore, Project AWARE Director - Global Operations

This Earth Day, like the Earth Day Network, we encourage our global community to rise up but to do so safely and responsibly. Let's use the power of our collective voices to drive action online rather than in person.

We know the outbreak is affecting regions and countries differently, and some individuals and communities may decide to still hold in-person events. We urge everyone to assess their situation individually, take precautions and follow the recommendations and advice from the World Health Organization, their Government and local Health Authorities. 

Whether it be coronavirus or our global climate crisis, we cannot shut down, 

said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network.

Instead, we must shift our energies and efforts to new ways to mobilize the world to action.

In a Press Release, Earth Day Network announced that the goal of Earth Day remains unchanged - unite hundreds of millions of people around the world to pressure world leaders to act on environmental degradation and climate change - but Earth Day’s updated digital-first strategy will leverage the global power of some of the world’s most innovative digital media platforms to mobilize millions in a collective call for transformative action for our planet.

The coordination will deliver an Earth Day unlike any other in history as the movement marks its 50th anniversary. 

The global conversation will be unified and tracked by the shared hashtags #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE. Earth Day Network will provide live coverage of the global digital mobilizations from its social media accounts (@earthdaynetwork). Plans are also underway to develop a major global event, coordinated across digital platforms to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. 

Other digital events will include virtual protests, social media campaigns, online teaching and more. A full scope of digital actions will be available at earthday.org. 

From organizing a "Facebook Watch Party" of your favourite ocean video to conducting the Project AWARE Specialty course online, there are many ways our global community of ocean adventurers can rise up and stay connected with what brings us together - our shared love for our blue planet this Earth Day and every day.

says Jack Fishman, Project AWARE Community Conservation Officer

Be creative and use Project AWARE's free resources in our Conservation Tools to join in the Earth Day celebrations from the safety of your home. 

Together, we can build an Earth Day unlike any other — an Earth Day that defines us as a global community, united by our challenges yet unshrinking from the bold, urgent action needed to overcome them.

Adds Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network.

Earth Day Network is also postponing its live 50th anniversary of Earth Day event on the National Mall, originally scheduled for April 25, 2020, moving the live global event to October 24-25, 2020 to mark the half birthday of Earth Day.

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Photo by NASA on Unsplash