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The Nature Conservancy in Indiana Indiana Homepage Where We Work How We Work Ways of Giving Journey With Nature Events News Press Releases Volunteer Contact |
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"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard."
Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day
Although Earth Day - April 22 - is a month away, it's never too early to celebrate our planet. Nor is it too late to make a difference in the health of our environment.
The History of Earth Day
It all started with one man. Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, was disappointed that "the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country." While working with then President John F. Kennedy on his 1963 Conservation Tour - a five-day, eleven state tour promoting the importance of our environment. Although the tour was seen as unsuccessful, Nelson continued to think about what else could be done to put our environment into the "political limelight."
In the summer of 1969, the Vietnam War demonstrations were already heavily underway. Teach-ins - or lengthy lessons and discussions on various controversial issues taught on campuses - gave Nelson the idea for his own grassroots protest. In September 1969, Nelson announced his intentions for a nationwide grassroots demonstration during a Seattle, Washington conference and invited the nation to participate. The Senator knew that "it was a big gamble, but worth the try."
The public's response to Nelson's invitation was phenomenal. On April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day event took place with almost 20 million Americans taking to the streets, parks and campuses across the nation. Coast-to-coast rallies, organized by Denis Hayes and young, concerned citizens, demonstrated for a healthy, sustainable planet. Finally, the politician's had no choice but to recognize how important the health of the air, water, soil and natural communities were to the American people. Not only that but organizations fighting against industrial pollution, power plants, toxic dumps, pesticide use, wildlife extinction and loss of wilderness realized that they all had a common goal and could work together to make things happen.
Senator Gaylord Nelson believed that it was the grassroots element to the first Earth Day that really made it successful. Despite the press and the help he found in eager volunteers to spearhead the event, he knew that it was the people in attendance that did all the work because they believed in the cause. Nelson once wrote that "that was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself."
Earth Day Today
Ever since that first demonstration in 1970, Earth Day has proved popular with Americans and those around the globe. According to the Earth Day Network, Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities with more than a half billion people participating every year. With each year, more and more work is being done in the name of the environment. Many important environmental protection laws have been passed by our government in the wake of Earth Day 1970. For instance, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was created to protect human health while safeguarding the natural environment.
Other movements in environmental progress include:
1970 - The Clean Water Act is amended and passed.
1972 - DDT - a cancer-causing pesticide - is banned from all use.
1974 - Safe Drinking Water Act is passed, allowing the EPA to regulate the quality of public drinking water.
1978 - Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are banned as propellants in aerosol cans because CFCs destroy the ozone layer, which protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
1980 - Congress creates Superfund to clean up hazardous waste sites. Polluters are made responsible for cleaning up the most hazardous sites.
1985 - Scientists find a giant hole in our Earth's ozone layer over Antarctica; greenhouse gases become an environmental issue.
1988 - Congress bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste.
1990 - EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory tells the public which pollutants are being released from specific facilities in their communities.
1996 - President Bill Clinton signs the Food Quality Protection Act to tighten standards for pesticides used to grow food, with special protections to ensure that foods are safe for children to eat.
1999 - New emissions standards for cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and trucks are announced, requiring them to be 77 percent to 95 percent cleaner than in 1999.
2000 - EPA establishes regulations requiring more than 90 percent cleaner heavy duty highway diesel engines and fuel.
For a more complete listing of our environmental congress, visit the EPA Timeline.
For More Information
Celebrating Nature's Beauty - The Nature Conservancy's website honoring Earth Day
Earth Day Network - Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, the Earth Day Network promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.
Earth Day.gov - The federal government's Earth Day webpage including information on how to take action on your own and in your community. Also offers links useful for teaching kids about the environment.
EPA & Earth Day - Let the Environmental Protection Agency help you help the planet. Tips on how to be more green in the home, office, school and the community are available.
Celebrate National Environmental Education Week April 13 - 19, 2008. Visit the website for teaching resources from grades K-12.
Teacher Vision's Earth Day Teaching Resources - Lesson plans on weather, recycling, global warming, wildlife and natural resources for science, social studies, history, language arts and art classes.
Treehugger's Earth Day Guide - Learn how to be more green when it comes to recycling, water usage, shopping, cleaning and more!
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Graphics © Elena Celeste Blando/TNC.
