Earth Day 2023

22nd April is celebrated as Earth Day. Around the world people met up to support the planet. In London, Extinction Rebellion protested at the Houses of Parliament for four days.

They want the government to take climate change seriously. Matthew Tulley's a volunteer.

Matthews Tulley: "The whole thing is about influencing politicians. We've got May elections coming up fairly soon."

Extinction Rebellion is known for extreme protests. But they've changed this to include more people. 10,000 people attended the protests in Parliament Square in London.

These protests focused on the loss of wildlife. Since Earth Day 1970, wildlife has decreased by 70 percent. People lay down in silence to remember the loss.

In Lima, Peru, shamans also celebrated Earth Day. They had a ceremony to ask Mother Earth to calm down. Shaman Anna Maria Simeon tells us more.

Ana Maria Simeon: "What we have been doing today, since we are celebrating Earth Day, is asking Mother Earth to calm her anger."

The shamans used coca leaves, swords and a live snake in their ceremony. They prayed and thanked the Earth.

Walter Alarcon's the president of the Association of Shamans.

Walter Alarcon: "We always thank the Earth because sometimes the human being is the one who deteriorates the Earth and so nature responds. That's why there are many disasters."

While shamans prayed to Earth, protesters made demands of the government.

Tarin feels that the protests need more supporters.

Tarin: "At the end of the day we need a lot more people than this to come together and unite. I think with people rising with numbers, the government and big businesses will be forced to make some drastic decisions."

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