Earth Day turns 45 this year Published March 30, 2015 By Nancy Sinclair 341st Missile Wing Staff Judge Advocate office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Earth Day will turn 45 years old this year, and the theme for this year's celebration is "It's Our Turn to Lead." Earth Day is being celebrated in a number of ways, but some of the most important are the Global Day of Conversation and Climate Education Week. Global Day of Conversation is an attempt to engage local leaders and elected officials to address the impacts of economic, political and environmental challenges facing their communities in the face of shrinking budgets. A piece of the puzzle is to address these concerns while creating jobs and producing energy savings. When all of the pieces of the puzzle are in place we live in a healthier environment. Through a Global Day of Conversation, local leaders and elected officials can open a dialog with stakeholders and constituents building understanding and cooperation necessary for meaningful environmental stewardship and implementing sustainability in our daily lives. Individuals interested in starting a Global Day of Conversation should consider organizing a town hall meeting to discuss sustainability strategies that could be implemented in their community. Climate Education Week is April 18-25, 2015, and is another opportunity to engage communities with a goal toward increasing environmental stewardship in each community. The Earth Day Network, a nonprofit organization, has a weeks-worth of curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students with a variety of interactive activities, like solar cooking and other projects to engage communities. Individuals could also have an essay or poster contest. More information can be found at http://www.earthday.org/climateeducationweek. Earth Day is a time to engage communities to build a healthier world for everyone. Go out on a limb and get involved in a Global Day of Conversation or other green activities.