Posted by Bob Ruehl
This week we celebrated Earth Day. Learn more about Rotary's long history of environmental leadership.
Earth Day was started in 1970 and is held annually to demonstrate support for protection of the environment.  
Rotarians and Rotaractors understand that the whole world is their backyard and this year’s Earth Day is especially meaningful. Starting in a few months on 1 July, 2021, supporting the environment will officially be Rotary’s seventh area of focus, which guide us in our service work and are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development. 
To start, you can learn all about why Rotary has decided to address this important issue facing the world today: 
An example of how one Rotarian is supporting the environment and making social change is Binish Desai of the Rotary Club of Vibrant Valsad, India. He has founded an eco-technology group to address industrial and domestic waste. His technologies convert waste into items that people can use in their everyday lives. One of these items is a brick made from paper waste that has helped build thousands of low-cost houses and toilets in the slums of rural India. You can watch this video to learn more about his work:  
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You can get involved and support the environment by: 

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