Millions of people around the world will pause on Monday, at least for a moment, to mark Earth Day. It’s an annual event founded by people who hoped to stir activism to clean up and preserve a planet that is now home to some 8 billion humans and trillions of other organisms.

When we observe the 54th Earth Day on April 22, the health and safety of Planet Earth couldn’t be timelier, especially when it comes to the proliferation of plastic.

This weekend in Houston offers something for everyone, from Earth Day celebrations to the return of the Brazilian Food and Music Festival. Whiskey aficionados can enjoy the Houston Whiskey Riot Festival, while music enthusiasts can catch Grammy Award winner David Sánchez at Miller Outdoor Theatre 's 23rd Annual Noche Caliente.

Earth Month kicked off in spectacular fashion with a partial eclipse here in South Florida, but it won’t overshadow the slew of environmental-themed events leading up to Earth Day on April

Earth Day turns 54 years old in 2024, bringing with it a celebration of the planet we call home and a reminder of ways we can help Mother Nature. This year’s theme is “Planet vs. Plastics,” which includes a call to reduce plastic production by 60 percent by 2024 to preserve our life on this Pale Blue Dot.