Written by Lauren James Budhu
Our planet is amazing, isn’t it? Earth rockets around the sun at a speed of 67,000 mph. It is the only planet in our solar system known to support life, due to oxygen, water, and too many other cool things to count! Any way you slice it, Earth is just awesome. To honor our home, people from all over come together to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd of each year.
It all started back in 1970 when Senator Gaylord Nelson wanted to bring awareness to environmental protections. Thus, Earth Day was born. More than 20 million Americans demonstrated across the United States that spring, and after which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created to help tackle environmental issues.
As Jack Lewis of the EPA Journal wrote back in 1990, “In the waning months of the 1960s, environmental problems were proliferating like a many-headed hydra, a monster no one could understand let alone tame or slay.” Air pollution from cars and factories, plus waterways inundated with oil and toxic chemicals were just a couple environmental issues plaguing the country at the time, but the awareness took a backseat due to the major push for civil rights and the anti-war movement. Luckily, millions came together to demonstrate through rallies, teach-ins, speeches and publicity gambits for the inaugural Earth Day in 1970, and it stuck! According to History.com, “the first Earth Day was effective at raising awareness about environmental issues and transforming public attitudes.”
It has transformed over the years– in 1990, Earth Day went global with more than 200 million in 140 nations celebrating. In 2000, Earth Day extended even more people across 184 nations and 5,000 environmental groups involved, and today, more than 1 billion people celebrate, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
Celebrating our planet is now more important than ever. Due to the impacts of global warming, we are experiencing extreme weather, rising sea levels, extinction, and so many other things. Earth Day makes our collective communities reflect on this beautiful place we call home and how we can work together to try to save it.
So, how can you celebrate this momentous annual event? Here are a few great options:
- Volunteer with EarthDay.org
- Make an Earth Day window sign
- Attend a celebration near you!
- Make your voice heard with legislation support
See other ways to be part of the celebration and take care of our planet Earth!
