More than one billion people are expected to take part in Earth Day celebrations, today, Sunday 22nd April.

This global event first began in 1970, and since then, concern for the environment has grown.

The aim of Earth Day is to help bring awareness and appreciation to protect our planet, and this year's theme is all about ending plastic pollution, seen as one of the biggest threats facing oceans.

On the African continent, countries like Mali, are trying to adopt sustainable practices.

The government in 2012 passed a law banning plastic bags, but six years on, many people still use them.

Mariam Diallo runs a women's organization in Mali that promotes sustainable development, and she told RFI's Christina Okello that for plastic pollution to come to an end, people's mentalities must first change.

For more news, follow Christina on Twitter @vivalid

World celebrates Earth Day, but in Mali environmentalism still seen as a Western problem

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