HARMONY FOODS representative Liz Fonseca presents a pine seedling to customers Claudine Goodine and Susan Wilson from Shelbure to mark this week's Earth Day celebrations. Photo/LAVINIA KERR Earth Day, normally celebrated on April 22 each year, is gaining momentum - and quickly turning into a week-long celebration by some organizations.

Since 1970, when Earth Day, was launched in the United States, it has gained international observance over the years, endeavouring to educate citizens about the impact of changes to the environment.

It's estimated more than 5,000 environmental groups around the world help to pass on the message to millions in at least 184 countries around the world, covering topics like global warming, clean energy, alternative fuels and pollution.

Students at Orangeville District Secondary School (ODSS) were encouraged to pack a litter-less lunch this week, as well to view one of two showings of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, a foreboding documentary released last year, about the impact of global warming, which were played in the library during lunch hour on Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Harmony Whole Foods in Orangeville planted a tree maple sugar tree at Island Lake Public School with the help of Kathi Lindsey's Grade 1 class.

Ms. Lindsey said the students had just completed a project about maple syrup and were pleased to learn they would be planting a Maple Sugar tree.

Also at Harmony, customers were receiving a tree seedling that they will be able to transplant themselves in time for Earth Day.

Recent polls in Canada suggest the environment is a major concern for Canadians and will likely continue as a priority when an election is called.

The federal government has been criticized for not honouring its commitments to the Kyoto accord and cancelation of the Liberals' One Tonne Challenge initiative.

Since the polls revealed an environmental focus, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been busy announcing new money and initiatives in support of the environment.

The website Earth Day Network shares some statistics to consider, including:

+ 550,000 trees would be saved if all the newspapers on an average Sunday were recycled (in the United States).

+ 4,281 acres of rainforest is lost every hour - worldwide.

+ Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers will be completely gone by 2020.

+ 70 per cent of the world's population that live in the tropics will be affected by climate change such as rising sea levels and warmer temperatures.

+ Potentially $30 can be saved annually by changing standard light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs.

+ Approximately 20 per cent of total heat loss in a typical home is a result of poor sealing.

The topic of global warming and the dramatic changes to the environment will continue to be discussed and some may argue that every day should be Earth Day.

It provides an opportunity to consider what individuals can do to affect change and perhaps decide to make a difference.