On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans marched on the streets, parks, and auditoriums to fight for a healthy, sustainable environment. Colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment.
Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.
These groups, leaded by Gaylord Nelson (Former U.S. Senator in Wisconsin), originated what we now know as Earth Day, which is now celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.
The holiday’s concept was first mentioned in 1969, at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco where peace activist, John McConnell, proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace.
Earth Day is a reminder of how important is it for us to take care of the world we live in because if we don’t, nobody will.
The possibilities for getting involved are endless. You can: Volunteer, go to a festival, install solar panels on your roof, organize an event in your community, change a habit, help launch a community garden, etc.
Do something nice for the Earth, have fun, meet new people, and make a difference. But it is important to remember that you can do these things all year-round. Earth Day should be every day, and we should strive to build a better future and commit to protect our environment.
You can even sing the anthem, which was specifically composed for this day, to celebrate with fellow environmentalists around the world. It goes, “Joyful, Joyful we adore our earth in all its wonderment. Simple gifts of nature that join all into paradise. No we must resolve to protect her, show her our love through out all time. With our gentle hand and touch we make our home a newborn world.”
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