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Essay Topic
"How can an International Serene Day create a paradigm shift from a human-centered to an Earth-centered world and inspire harmony with nature?"
Description
- (Simple description for very young writers) Sound is essential to many marine animals’ survival. The ocean is a naturally noisy place, so what happens when human-made sounds interfere with those that should be there? There is a growing problem of underwater sound pollution, which is caused by human activities like drilling, shipping, sonar and seismic exploration. It has far-reaching consequences for marine life (like dolphin sounds) – but can anything be done to curb it? Does the sound pollution affect humans and other animals? Does the light pollution affect baby turtles? Is the space around earth polluted too? How can we make our planet Earth a serene place of everyone?
- Relevance: The magnitude of climate change and the loss of biodiversity is enormous and is the focus of Earth Day on April 22nd. However, numerous other important aspects are often overlooked as a priority. One Earth Day is not enough! In 2022, keeping in mind the well being of all inhabitants of planet Earth, International Serene Day (ISD) on March 20th was proposed by Dr. Hiremath at the United Nations to create awareness of anthropogenic intervention at several levels, which encompasses air, water, land, light, sound, thermal, nuclear, and space. ISD provides the opportunity for humanity to appreciate the beauty of nature and the grandeur of life around us.
- Light: "Light pollution is the over-illumination of cities and night skies by artificial lighting. ... The turtle hatchling's instinct to follow the light of the moon in order to reach the sea is intercepted by the light of inland cities. ... The excess light can overwhelm photoreceptor cells in the retina, damaging ones eyesight. Plus, it disrupts natural sleep cycles, and causes sleep deprivation, leading to a number of health problems, possibly including cancer. Light pollution also results in the production of additional carbon emissions." - National Geographic
- Sound: "The loudest areas on the transportation paths, such as roadways train lines and the flight paths of airports, people who live in those places have a significantly higher incidence of a long list of diseases - diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleeping problems, birth related problems, inability to pay attention at work, health consequences, life quality consequences, that arise just from from being exposed to noise for the people in Paris ..." - David Owen | The New Yorker
- Nuclear: The fuel rods will remain radioactive enough to emit a lethal dose for tens or hundreds of thousands of years past their removal. - Nuclear Waste
- Space: Satellites are extremely useful. They assist with global communications, GPS navigation, and even the gathering of weather information. However, they end up generating a significant amount of space junk. At this time, the Earth is being orbited by over 128 million objects larger than a millimeter in diameter.
- Nature: "When you're out in nature, your mind is restored after 15 to 20 minutes walking through trees. You will have a bigger attention span, you can solve more complicated cognitive tests, and puzzles. Researchers have observed that after three days, the prefrontal cortex, the part of you that's in charge, it relaxes, its reset, and that's when you have your most creative and productive time." - Dr. Nooshin Razani, Pediatrics
- Nature: "Research shows time in a park or forest bathing will decrease stress and anxiety, and it will increase the ability to focus, think critically and make better decision." - Ronna Schneberger
- Nature: "Only 2% of the population are really good at multitasking. Multitasking increases our stress levels. It is linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine and behavioral addiction and it causes human error." - Prof. David Strayer
- Focus on positive things around the globe that are worth emulating.
- The future of our planet Earth is not negotiable. How can people in our communities help to take care of it? Let us leave our planet better than we found it.
Resources
Deadline
March 1, 2023
Sponsors
Participation
If you answer "yes" to at least one of the following:
- Do you enjoy creative writing?
- Do you want to create a better future for our beautiful and unique planet Earth?
- Would you wish to support a global cause?
Benefits
- Participate in good habits of conservation and do small but necessary tasks like recycling.
- Shoulder our individual and our collective responsibilities towards our planet Earth.
- For helping out, get volunteer hours (up to 8 hours) from SEALOEarth.
Guidelines
- The essay contest is open to writers around the world in three categories: Youth (ages 9-14), Juniors (ages 15-18), Seniors (ages 19-25), and Noncompetitive (26 and above). ( Age Calculator)
- All entries must be original, unpublished, and written specifically for this contest.
- Single author and single entry per person will only be allowed.
- The essay must have a title.
- The essay content must be completely in English.
- The essay must be in text format (for cut and paste).
- The essay must not contain any personal information, tables, and diagrams.
- The essay must mention at least one of the required links provided in the resources.
- The essay must mention at least one new resource.
- The essay must have MLA Citation Style.
- The total word count of the essay including the bibliography must be between 700-1500 words for Youth and 1000-1800 words for Juniors and Seniors.
- All contestants must register and submit essay online, in one step.
- Entries without all required information will not be considered.
- Proof of age and a formal photograph (with plain background) must be promptly submitted when requested. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the contest.
- Selected essays will be published by SEALOEarth.
Prescreening
Entries will be disqualified if:
- The essay exceeds the word count.
- The essay is shorter than the minimum word count.
- The essay does not address the prompt.
- The essay does not have research citations.
- The essay does not have at least one required resource.
- The essay does not have at least one new finding.
- The essay does not have one's own unique idea.
- The essay does not have a title.
Criteria
- Content - Prompt Focus; Clarity; Coherence; Opening; Body; Closing
- Style - Creativity; Voice; Diction; MLA Citation
- Mechanics - Grammar; Punctuation; Sentences; Spelling
Registration
Judges
- We are privileged to have an outstanding international panel of judges for the essay contest.
- The judges decision is final.
Awards
The awards in each category will be announced at the Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, May 6th, 2023.
- First Prize: $200
- Second Prize: $100
- One first winning entry received by January 1st will receive an additional prize of $25!
We reserve the right to change the prize amount depending on the funds available.
We expect outstanding essays from all young minds. Good luck!
Feel good and proud about your participation in the stewardship of planet Earth.
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