June 8th is Canada’s annual Clean Air Day, a day dedicated to celebrating  environmentally-friendly activities that promote clean air and good health across Canada.

What started out as a provincial holiday in 1992 has been sweeping throughout Canada ever since.

Clean Air Day is intended to encourage people to make clean air choices — not just on Clean Air Day, but as lifelong habits.   The event helps Canadians understand more about  serious air quality and environmental issues. These include smog, fine particulates, ozone depletion and global climate change.

Is Canada the only country with air quality issues?  I would seriously doubt that.

Why isn’t the United States, and their countries jumping on Clean Air Day?

Surely our air quality is worse than Canada’s.

They have even created teacher’s guides to help school’s promote the holiday, complete with Air Quality superheroes, known as the Clean Air Crusaders (the Winged Wonder, the Green Protector and Captain Air).  These characters help children get involved with the event.

Earth Day is a great event. However, I think each month should have one “holiday” dedicated to a specific environmental issue-to help narrow the focus.

• Air Quality Day is certainly one.
• Clean Water Day can be another.
• Energy Efficiency Day still another.

By breaking down environmental initiatives into small, one day events, communities, utilities, schools and corporations can better get involved in education and outreach. Earth Day comes and goes so quickly that its impact cannot reach all facets of environmental improvement.

A series of 12 one day eco-holidays would have much greater impact, and make it easier to come up with a curriculum, characters and mascots, themes and outreach and education campaigns.

What other one day events and holidays would you create?  Please let me know.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow, today.

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Robert Piller, president of Eco Marketing Solutions, is experienced in green marketing campaigns and recycled promotional products.  He has worked to help plant over 25 million trees through his live tree seedling gift program over the past dozen years.  His company’s website, EcoMarketingSolutions.com, features over 25,000 eco-friendly promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find biodegradable, organic and recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame.

You can also reach him by email (robert (at) ecomarketingsolutions.com) or comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com or below at his Twitter link.

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