Tasneem Hossain - Let’s Nurture Our Mother Earth
Moderator 
Let’s Nurture Our Mother Earth
What does a mother do?
She nurtures her children. She prepares food for them, provides clothing, and protection. She loves them, cherishes, educates and helps them to live a happy life. These are the things that our Earth provides us with. This is why we call her Mother Nature or Mother Earth.
………
I nurture you, I build you strong.
Fresh air, sweet water and arable land all around.
I nourish you in the womb,
I nurture you in my lap all year round
I am Mother Nature
Mess with me; I create destruction all around -T.H.
Yes, this is mother nature giving us so much and nourishing us all the time . Yet, what have we done? We have only brought destruction to this earth with our mindless acts. Now Mother Nature is lashing back in anger to teach us a lesson to take care of her, for our own survival.
We have taken the world for granted. Our greed to control nature and exploit all its resources to have more and more on our platters for consumption and for profit making has affected the ozone layer, destroyed the natural balance of eco system and brought many natural disasters. Our greed has resulted in an impending doom.
Experts predict that we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.
In a mass extinction, a high percentage of biodiversity, or distinct species – bacteria, fungi, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates die in a short period of geological time. When one or more species go extinct or if there’s a significant population decline, it can’t continue its proper balance, threatening survival of other species in the whole ecosystem. There have been five previous mass extinctions in the planet. The last one occurred 65.5 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs.
Those extinctions were the results of natural phenomena.
Sadly, human activities are responsible for the upcoming sixth mass extinction due to the unsustainable use of land, water and energy. We, human beings, are in dire need of taking care of our environment to exist on this planet.
We aren’t only over-exploiting available resources but also generating immense pollution that disrupts biodiversity. The environment is being destroyed by pollution from factories, plastic waste, and deforestation, intensified agriculture and livestock production accelerating destruction of our Earth leading to one of the biggest threats to human survival: climate change.
Climate change and global warming is the cause for the recent heat waves in Bangladesh. A seasonal high heat record of ocean temperature is witnessed globally. It’s a grave threat to some marine life. Extreme heat can result in a range of illnesses and death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Following a decade of local protests for air and water pollution in the United States, Earth Day was launched at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco 1969. Earth Day was held for the first time in California, USA on 22 April 1970. The first international recognition of the interdependence of humans, other living things, and our planet was established during the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. It led to the establishment of World Environment Day on 5th June and the UN Environment program. World Earth Day serves as a reminder that we are part of a complex ecosystem and that the health of the earth is deeply correlated with our well-being.
The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through a resolution adopted in 2009, joining groups that had previously celebrated Earth Day on the same date.
Both these days and World Environment Day focus to raise our awareness about global environmental challenges facing our planet: from climate change and deforestation to pollution and loss of biodiversity and sustainable resource management.
It doesn’t only create awareness but it calls for collective action to take proactive measures for environmental conservation worldwide; to restore the damages we have caused to nature and to nurture nature and the Earth for a harmonious relationship; to achieve a balance for the economic, social, and environmental needs of the present and future generations of humanity; and adopt eco-friendly practices.
The 2026 Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ highlights the role of communities and individuals in driving environmental change. It focuses on shifting to renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and taking everyday actions that protect the planet. Activities begin on April 18 and lead up to April 22, encouraging cleanups, creating awareness, tree planting, education, and local sustainability efforts. Its focus is to continue a concerted effort globally to significantly include expanding clean energy, reduce the use of plastic waste, and strengthening community accountability.
Also known as International Mother Earth Day, this global event organized by the United Nations and coordinated by the Earth Day Network aims to raise awareness about environmental challenges, promote harmony with nature, and ensure a balanced approach to economic, social, and environmental needs for current and future generations.
The future generations need to be informed of the damage that has already been done and educated on how to tackle the situation to save this planet from future disasters.
We have only one earth. We are running out of time to save our planet. But by working together and sharing knowledge, progress can be accelerated. Each one of us can make a difference by adopting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. Each individual action will contribute to a greater collective difference in saving our Mother Earth.
Let’s celebrate International Mother Earth Day by beginning our life anew: better, kinder and enlightened in our attitudes towards our fellow human beings, our surroundings and Mother Nature.
Mother Earth nourishes us in her womb. It’s our responsibility to nurture her for our own sake and the future generations to come.
Let’s take action to save nature for a safer, beautiful Earth- NOW.
