A little bit of history... 

Do we know how Earth Day came about? While the first Earth Day was launched in 1970 in the United States, the course was set way earlier in 1962 with the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. The book raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health, resulting in the launch of Earth Day that provided a voice to this emerging environmental consciousness, and that put environmental concerns on the front page.

Twenty years later, in 1990, Earth Day went global. It also gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Significance of Earth Day today

Today Earth Day is a widely recognised observance participated by many around the world. Its global significance lies in that Earth Day’s objectives are closely aligned with many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs; see picture above). The goals 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 examine clean water, clean energy, sustainable communities, responsible consumption, climate action, protecting bodies of water, and taking care of everything on land—all of which align perfectly with the purpose and point of Earth Day.

Furthermore, with the COVID-19 pandemic, as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of humans and the planet, Earth Day remains ever more important to combating such global scale threats. United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres noted that, "Had we been further advanced in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we could better face this challenge."

What about Singapore?

While Earth Day gave voice to worldwide consciousness about the state of our planet, Singapore also recognises the importance of local environmental movement that addresses our own needs and issues. Hence The Singapore Green Plan issued in May 1992 was the country's first formal plan to balance environmental and developmental needs in Singapore. It was presented at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (commonly known as the Earth Summit) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. Today, Singapore Green Plan 2030 seeks to rally collective actions to tackle climate change and make Singapore a Green and livable home. Many aims in our Green Plan 2030 aligns with the aims of Earth Day 2021, like the emphasis on emerging green technologies and innovative thinking that can restore our Earth. 

The aspiration thus remains - to urge current and future generations of US Presidents and policymakers of the need for the adoption of a single policy of dealing with what the author perceives as an existential Chinese threat to America and the Western world, claiming "the rise of China represents the most significant post-war challenge to US leadership of the global political, economic and security order."

Some guiding questions for us to ponder on: 

1) What, according to the author, is the significance of Kennan's Long Telegram?

2) Compare and Contrast Kennan's Long Telegram with that of the latest Longer Telegram. What are the key similarities and differences?

3) What, according to the author, are the limitations of the Longer Telegram?

4) In your view, what do you think is the purpose of the author of the Longer Telegram? 

5) If you were a senior State Department official of the US government, what would you recommend for US foreign policy towards China? Do provide justifications for your thinking.

6) What, do you think, is the purpose of Jonathan Eyal's opinion piece?