O Dia da Árvore, Arbor Day, was celebrated in Brazil on September 21, which is also the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Amazon rainforest, or os pulmōes do mundo, the lungs of the world, as it is also called, occupies an area of over 2,123,000 sq. miles, 60 percent of which is in the northern part of Brazil. This enormous tropical jungle represents more than half of all the tropical rainforests in the world. So Brazilians are pretty serious about preserving this treasure that is such a great part of their natural environment.
In addition, the Amazon poses many temptations that represent a challenge for a population that still struggles with poverty: from illegal logging, to farms that little by little incorporate parts of forest land, to excessive extraction of minerals.
Every Brazilian has a strong opinion when it comes to the Amazon and environmental preservation, so it’s no surprise that O Dia da Árvore is celebrated with great enthusiasm by everybody, especially children. Every school has special programs, usually lasting a whole week, for students to discuss ways to save the environment and plant trees in or around the school grounds.
The yellow ipê was the tree chosen to mark the day, even though the name Brazil comes from paú-brasil, a tree now in extinction. O ipê amarelo has abundant yellow blossoms representing one of the colors in the Brazilian flag and the beginning of spring.
If you can’t plant a tree on Arbor Day, Veja, one of Brazil’s largest weekly magazines, published a list with 20 useful tips that can help you keep the planet greener and reduce your ecological footprint throughout the year. Read the list, click on the link to read the explanations, and check all the ways you are already contributing to a safer planet.
1. Troque o seu carro. Change your car.
2. Dê ao seu carro uma folga. Give your car a break.
3. Lave a seco. Dry clean.
4. Não jogue fora a bateria do seu carro. Don’t throw out your car battery.
5. Recicle o lixo. Recycle.
6. Jogue menos comida fora. Throw out less food.
7. Prefira alimentos frescos. Prefer fresh produce.
8. Regule o termostato da geladeira. Regulate the thermostat in your refrigerator.
9. Encha a máquina. Fill up you washing machine.
10. Tampe as panelas. Keep the lids on your pots when cooking.
11. Rejeite propaganda indesejada. Refuse junk mail.
12. Reaproveita a água da chuva. Reuse rainwater.
13. Troque a descarga. Use low flush toilets.
14. Prefira lâmpadas LED, de diodo. Use LED lightbulbs.
15. Recicle seu telefone celular. Recycle your cellphone.
16. Prefira pilhas recarregáveis. Give preference to rechargeable batteries.
17. Desplugue-se. Unplug.
18. Configure a impressora para o modo de impressão frente e verso. Use the front and back mode on your printer.
19. Utilize papel reciclado. Use recycled paper.
10. Limpe seu ar-condicionado. Clean your A.C.
Feliz Dia da Árvore! Happy Arbor Day!
