"Water for life" is the theme for this year's Earth Day celebration hosted by Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) on April 22, 2005. Students from over 30 schools and a number of environmental organizations will participate in this year's exhibition at JET's office at 11 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10.

The celebration, which is open to the public, will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This year's theme focuses on raising public awareness of the importance of water, its conservation and public health issues related to its improper use. In addition to the exhibitions, there will be a number of water-based games and activities. Also, persons can bring water in sterilised bottles to be tested by a mobile water testing lab.

Last year's "Recycle Jamaica Day" was a great success and will be repeated this year. Members of the public are asked to bring PET bottles, glass bottles, paper and cardboard for recycling to the Earth Day celebrations. Last year's collection totalled over 67 large bags of PET bottles, a drum of glass, 4 hampers of paper and 1 ½ skips of cardboard and it is hoped that this will be surpassed this year.

The list of exhibitors at this year's event includes an interactive water pollution demonstration from the Water Resources Authority, with other displays and activities from the National Water Commission, and other agencies.

Sponsors for this year's event include NEM Insurance Co. Ltd., National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST), Airport Authority of Jamaica, and Bigga Soft drinks.

Jason Clarke, a participant in last year's celebration, summed up the experience:
"It was an excellent event as it emphasized conservation practices very well. The exhibitions put up by the students were also very good as they showed creativity and ingenuity in portraying the theme. I recommend that Earth Day continues to be an annual event and try to attract more schools and members of the public."

Earth Day began in the United States in 1970 to promote good environmental citizenship all over the world through sound, workable and effective environmental and sustainable development policies. Over half a billion people in 184 countries worldwide celebrate Earth Day.