Earth Day
The annual effort to create a better future for our planet is today. Of course, the effort I’m referring to is Earth Day. Earth Day is the unofficial holiday held on April 22 meant for inspiring humans to think consciously about our environment and strive to keep it a habitable place to live.
What Is It?
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 was, and still is, the largest secular day of protest in world history. Sparked by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson with help from young activist Denis Hayes, the first Earth Day was a reminder for the American people that we only have one Earth, and if our environment isn’t handled correctly, we could lose it. For decades leading up to the first Earth Day, the American public was largely unaware of the environmental effects of large industries. Nelson saw this, and with inspiration from Anti-War protests and teachings on college campuses due to Vietnam, made the call to announce the movement on April 22nd.
10% of the United States participated in the demonstration, roughly 20 million people at the time. The following decade brought numerous acts and laws relating to environmental consciousness such as the Endangered Species Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Clean Water/Air Acts, and by the 1990s, Earth Day was a global event, inspiring countless people from hundreds of nations across the world to understand environmental choices we make each and every day.
What You Can Do
To help, make the small decisions each and every day that make a difference, such as conserving water and energy by not leaving water running or leaving lights off during the day. While these should be daily activities, any start is a good start. If you’re already doing this, you can look into planting native plant species in your lawns, or carpooling to work or school with friends more frequently. You can even volunteer for cleanup at events such as Founders Day. As long as a portion of your daily routine is changing in favor of the environment, no matter what you choose to do, you can consider yourself a participant in Earth Day.