Earth Day 2013: Amazing Videos of Planet Earth

Today is Earth Day, so here's some ideas to get out and celebrate in and around Marion:

• The Marion Public Library is celebratinge Earth Day from 3:30 to 5 p.m. by experimenting with natural batteries, practicing "reduce, reuse, recycle" by making crafts with the library's discarded books. It's for third grade and up.
• Get out of your car and go enjoy one of the great trails around Marion here by foot or bike.
• Get outside and enjoy the fresh air with a round of golf at a local course.
• The Longbranch Bar in Cedar Rapids is celebrating Earth Day by giving a 10 percent discount to customers who mention something they're doing to help make "Mother Earth" a cleaner place.
• Recycle, pick up litter and find a way to cut back on what you use. Here's some Earth Day tips from Metro Waste.

According to earthday.org, more than 1 billion people will participate in Earth Day 2013 events on April 22. The global event celebrates the beauty of our planet and calls on individuals, organizations, companies and governments to do their part to ensure the preservation of the planet.

Born in the protest era of Vietnam, the first Earth Day in 1970 brought 20 million Americans to rallies across the country in a show of support for the environment during a time when rampant pollution went mostly unchecked.

Earth Day went global in 1990 when an estimated 200 million joined the movement and helped ignite the recycling craze.

The 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010 focused on climate change and the dangers associated with destroying our environment. And with 2013 comes a renewed focus on sustainability and living green.

However you’re planning to mark Earth Day 2013, save a few moments to take in the beauty of the planet. We’ve assembled a few of our favorite videos in honor of Earth Day.

Have one you’d like to share? It’s easy to upload it to the gallery. Share your favorite images of the planet or even how to live more ‘green’. Just click, link, and post for all to see.

Original reporting by Derrick Williams.