Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event that takes place on April 22nd of every year to show support for environmental protection. This special day was first celebrated on April 22nd, 1970.
The idea for Earth Day came from a man named Senator Gaylord Nelson in response to the alarming pollution levels present in the United States during the 1960s. At the time, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect the environment, and this issue was not receiving the attention it deserved. Senator Nelson saw the need to bring attention to this issue on the national agenda, and so he created Earth Day as a way to do just that.
The choice of April 22nd as the date was carefully selected. It falls between colleges’ spring break and final exams, making it an ideal time to gather people together for a cause. Additionally, Arbor Day, which encourages people to plant trees, also falls around this time, providing an extra reason to celebrate our planet.
On the first Earth Day in 1970, an estimated 20 million people across the United States attended various events at tens of thousands of sites, including schools, universities, and community centers. The event was a huge success and helped to bring much needed attention to the importance of protecting our planet.
See also: Protesting for a Cleaner Planet on Earth Day.
Since then, the celebration has grown into a global event, with over a billion people participating in activities and events all around the world. People all over the globe use this day to come together to show their support for environmental protection and to take action towards creating a healthier planet for future generations.
How to celebrate:
- Get involved at home by divesting from unsustainable investments and businesses, work toward zero waste, and donate to organizations working to protect the planet.
- Write letters to local officials and representatives demanding climate action. Write letters to companies demanding sustainable packaging and eco-manufacturing.
- Join or host an event through EarthDay.org.
- Clean up the plastic in your neighbourhood or local park.
- Plant a tree or native plants and flowers.
- Commit to one green act per day.
Fun Facts:
- With 20 million people attending, the first Earth Day in 1970 remains the largest single-day protest in human history.
- The event has a theme song called “Earth Anthem,” which was written by Indian poet Abhay Kumar in 2013.
- About a billion people participate each year.
- Hundreds of millions of trees have been planted for Earth Day.
- In 2009, NASA planted a moon tree out of sycamore seeds to commemorate Earth Day.
- It is also called International Mother Earth Day.
- The Paris Agreement, a global accord to combat climate change, was signed on Earth Day in 2016.
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