Make every day Earth Day, Greens urge

International Earth Day is a positive celebration of efforts to save the planet, but the challenge is to make every day an Earth Day, says Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.

Green Party members are marking the 35th international Earth Day today with events around New Zealand.

A number of branches are giving out pieces of 'Earth Day cake' to reflect the finite nature of the planet's resources.

"Earth Day is an opportunity to focus on the positive efforts that ordinary people are making to reverse the damage done to the planet," said Ms Fitzsimons.

The Greens have published a bookmark to mark Earth Day that lists some things people can do to reduce their ecological footprints, including:

* enjoy a book on the bus and leave the car at home

* go for a walk somewhere beautiful once a week

* be an energy efficiency champion at work

* reuse drink bottles; refill them with water

* borrow something you need rather than buying it

* savour local, organic, free range produce in season

* take time to enjoy the outdoors

* put on another layer before putting on the heater