The First Earth Day
On April 22, 1970, some 20 million people took part in the first Earth Day in America.
In 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed the effects of the Santa Barbara oil spill and wanted to do something to prevent future horrors. At the time, American schools were a hotbed for anti-war protests. He believed that if he could harness that same enthusiasm for the rising interest in air and water pollution, he could make environmental protection a part of the national political agenda.
Soon after, Nelson publicly announced that he planned to hold a “national teach-in on the environment.” He soon recruited Pete McCloskey to serve as hi co-chair and Denis Hayes as the national coordinator. Hayes assembled a national staff of 85 to push for events around the country. They then selected April 22 as the date for their event, as it fell between spring break and final exams and would allow more students to participate.
As planned, Earth Day 1970 was celebrated around the country on April 22. Some 2,000 colleges, 10,000 primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across American joined in the event. Overall, it “brought 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform.”
The largest demonstration took place in New York City. Mayor John Lindsay closed down Fifth Avenue and made Central Park available for the event. An estimated one million people attended the New York City event. And because the city was home to several major television and newspaper producers, it provided substantial coverage.
Different events took place in different cities. People met in the streets, parks, and auditoriums, holding massive rallies calling for environmental improvements. Groups fighting against oil spills, pesticides, freeways, and other causes quickly found they all shared common interests and could be more successful working together.
Earth Day also brought about a rare occurrence. Republicans and Democrats – as well as many other people from opposing walks of life – joined together for a common goal. By the end of 1970, the Earth Day movement helped bring about the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Nelson later called that, “It was a gamble, but it worked.” For his work, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Twenty years later, Nelson’s partner, Denis Hayes, took the celebrations international. Some 200 million people in 141 countries joined in the 1990 Earth Day event. They brought environmental issues to the world stage. Their efforts brought a major boost to recycling efforts around the globe and led to the 1992 U.N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Today, Earth Day is celebrated annually by more than two billion people, making it the largest secular observance on the planet.
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?? HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!
I remember it NASA had really gone out to support & contractors as well there was a lot to see & very educational. Learned alot about things now & into the future. Not sure what year it was but they support it every year
Ah yes, I remember it well. Ironically the celebration I attended was at a location called the Nike Base, referred to as such because of its previous installation. It was attended by the same thousands of people who actively opposed our occupation in the Nam and opposed by the same who supported it. Many who attended were veterans. It was a celebration that evolved from a curious gathering to major conservation consciousness. How’s your carbon footprint?
If you have a Flood, Valcano Eruition, Earth Quake? How much of the a
earth have you saved??? Global warming!!! Climet Change!!! Nuthing you do change
MOTHER NATURE WILL RULE…. Earth Day!!!
Yes you will always have those but we, us, the human race has caused a tipping point. Without the human pestilence all would be well. There are some that lack not only common sense but any intelligence as well. Sitting on their poor Mom’s couch dreaming up things that just don’t exist. Go to school stupid. Probably aren’t smart enough to pass the entrance exam. By the way dummy, this is a stamp blog.
Earth Day and Lenin’s birthday, ..a lot in common!
Happy Earth day we still need to plant some tress and f)owners) estel make the earth and more beautiful place to live and learn and to love and. Respect for us an all future generations.
I meant to say flowers..