Seen from afar, the Earth appears as a tiny blue marble floating in a boundless universe. It is our home, a spaceship traveling through space around the Sun for 4.5 billion years. Fascinating and extraordinary, yet incredibly fragile, the Earth is a shelter with thin walls that protects us but requires our care to avoid irreversible deterioration.
Unfortunately, until now, humanity has behaved more like a careless tenant than a responsible guardian, exploiting the planet's resources almost to the point of no return. A symbolic but alarming figure comes from the Doomsday Clock: according to this tool, created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to represent how close we are to self-destruction, only 89 seconds remain until midnight—the moment when everything could vanish.
In light of these warnings, celebrating Earth Day becomes a moral duty. Raising awareness among as many people as possible about the protection of our planet is no longer an option but a necessity.
Earth Day: the origins of a global movement
Every year, on April 22, Earth Day engages over 190 countries with events, celebrations, and educational initiatives involving up to one billion people. This year marks its 55th anniversary, but to discover its origins, we must travel back to the 1960s and 1970s—an era of great change, with the hippie movement, Woodstock, the Moon landing, but also the bloody Vietnam War.
The idea came from American Senator Gaylord Nelson, inspired by anti-war protests. In 1962, he proposed a series of meetings on pollution and the depletion of non-renewable resources. He was supported by Robert Kennedy, who traveled through eleven states to hold conferences on environmental protection.
The real turning point came in 1969 when an environmental disaster off the coast of Santa Barbara caused a massive oil spill into the sea. This event—the third worst in history after Deepwater Horizon in 2010 and Exxon Valdez in 1989—convinced Nelson that it was time to act. Thus, on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was officially born: twenty million Americans took to the streets to demand concrete measures against pollution. Among the demonstrators were well-known figures like Paul Newman. Renowned journalist Walter Cronkite, who had narrated the Moon landing to the world, dedicated a report to the event titled “Earth Day: an SOS for survival”.
From America to the Whole World
The first Earth Day editions were mainly an American phenomenon, but in 1990, the event went global, with celebrations in over 140 countries. Thanks to media coverage, the movement grew into a worldwide phenomenon. For its 20th anniversary, a team of climbers collected two tons of waste left on Mount Everest, broadcasting the achievement live via satellite. In 2000, with the advent of the internet, the environmental message reached hundreds of millions of people and involved international stars like Leonardo DiCaprio.
Today, Earth Day is the most widely celebrated environmental event in the world, engaging over a billion people. It symbolizes the birth of the Green Generation, a movement fighting for a future based on renewable energy and sustainable consumption. Faced with the climate crisis and the relentless exploitation of resources, pausing to reflect on these issues is more necessary than ever. In the United States, 42% of people still believe that the dangers of climate change are exaggerated, while less than half think environmental protection should take precedence over energy production. These numbers show just how far we still have to go toward global awareness.
Small Daily Actions for a More Sustainable World
Each of us can contribute through small daily choices. Cesarine, which promotes authentic food and wine experiences, focuses on Italian culinary culture with a sustainable approach. Using local and short-supply chain ingredients ensures freshness and genuine flavors while reducing the environmental impact of transportation and supporting small producers.
An essential aspect is also the recovery of traditional anti-waste recipes. Many iconic Italian dishes were born out of the need to waste nothing—think of Tuscan ribollita or pappa al pomodoro. According to a study by the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, following a diet based on local and seasonal products can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production by up to 30%.
At Cesarine, we believe that sustainability starts with small daily choices: a meal prepared with seasonal ingredients, a recipe passed down with love, an experience shared around the table. Because the future is in our hands, and we can make it more sustainable—one dish at a time.
Cesarine’s Anti-Waste Recipes
Want to learn how to reduce food waste while preparing delicious, sustainable, and eco-friendly dishes? Check out our recipe book! You'll find ideas like Winter Panzanella, leftover meatloaf, and Cialledda—dishes designed to make the most of every ingredient.
Because sustainability starts in the kitchen!