![EARTH MONTH: City of Powell River invited residents to gather for a public raising of an Earth Day flag at Powell River City Hall at noon on Monday, April 22. Councillor and acting mayor Rob Southcott [left] commemorated Earth Day/week/month by speaking about how the first Earth Day came to be more than 50 years ago.](https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/powellriverpeak/images/people/2929_raising_the_flagjpg.PNG;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000)
Residents, environmental groups and City of Powell River councillor, acting mayor and president of Malaspina Land Conservancy Society (MLCS) Rob Southcott gathered on the lawn at city hall to commemorate Earth Day/Month by raising a flag.
Members from climate groups attended the noon-hour event including: MLCS, qathet Climate Action, Brooks Ecology program and Emerge Collab. Southcott gave a speech about the importance of connecting with nature, the Earth and conservation efforts around the world.
"Earth Day came out of the anti-war movement," said Southcott.
The late Gaylord Nelson, a former senator from the United States, founded Earth Day on April 22, 1970, as a teach-in about environmental issues.
"Inspired by the student anti-war movement, Nelson wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution," according to earthday.org.
City of Powell River signed an Earth Month proclamation that stated: "The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, with the goal of inspiring an appreciation of natural and cultural resources through conservation and protection."
The city stated in the proclamation that it is officially "extending Earth Day to Earth Month; April 1 to 30, 2024, in recognition of the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship and respect, in line with the goals of the City of Powell River, the Sustainability Charter and the city's Sustainable Official Community Plan to enhance the well-being of residents, families and our community through leadership and sustainability."
There are many climate initiatives happening this month, including one by MLCS. At the beginning of April the group offered the qathet community fir and cedar seedlings to plant on private property to assist with climate change and beautify the community, and is continuing a tree planting initiative in the region," according MLCS board members.
This is the fifth year of the tree planting initiative and so far thousands of trees have been planted.
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