Earth Day – April 22, 2011

Le présent billet a été rédigé par Jonathan Goldberg, que je remercie. Une traduction en français sera publiée prochainement sur ce blog.

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire appreciation for the Earth's natural environment.

The United Nations has designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day.

Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.

 

Here are some English expressions containing the word “earth”:

down-to-earth – practical; realistic; pragmatic. 

flat-earther – A person who believes or advocates a discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth, despite overwhelming evidence.

to move heaven and earth – to do whatever is necessary in order to achieve a goal.

hell on earth – a very unpleasant situation; torment

the salt of the earth – people of great worth

This last phrase is from the Bible, Matthew 5:13 (King James Version).

The words “heaven and earth” do not usually stand by themselves, but Shakespeare’s Hamlet says:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Act 1, Scene 5, 159-167

Sources:

Wikipedia – Earth Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day (English version)

Wikipedia – Jour de la Terre - http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jour_de_la_Terre (French version)

United Nations – International Mother Earth Day http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/

Nations Unies : Journée internationale de la Terre nourricière - http://www.un.org/fr/events/motherearthday/

Earth Day Network - http://www.earthday.org/