Commemorating Earth Day, UIN Jakarta Implement One Day No Elevator Campaign

Rectorate, UIN News Online –   To commemorate the Earth Day's 47th anniversary on April 22, 2017, Rector of UIN Jakarta Prof Dr Dede Rosyada issued a circular letter addressed to all civitas academica of UIN Jakarta, to participate in energy savings movement, by minimizing the usage of water and electricity, one of which is by deactivate the elevator services for two days (April 20-22).

The campaign is aimed to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining the sustainability and availability of natural resources, as well as to appreciate our mother earth.

Separately, Rector of UIN Jakarta Prof Dr Dede Rosyada said that UIN Jakarta must paying attention to the sustainability of natural resources that will be depleted very soon,

“This commemoration also served as a reminder of every individual in UIN Jakarta to minimize the energy usage and consumption,” he said.

The History of Earth Day

Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the United States for the first time. Millions of Americans, including students from thousands of colleges and universities, participated in rallies, marches, and educational programs.

Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a staunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grassroots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy,” Senator Nelson said, “and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda.” Earth Day indeed increased environmental awareness in America, and in July of that year the Environmental Protection Agency was established by special executive order to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation.

On April 22, 1990, the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.

Earth Day has been celebrated on different days by different groups internationally. The United Nations officially celebrates it on the vernal equinox, which usually occurs about March 21. (usa)