Welcome to Earth Day
Monday, April 20, 2009
April 22 is Earth Day. A lot of people probably won’t do anything out of the ordinary. I usually forget that anything is special about the day. This year, I was wondering why exactly anyone started this, for want of a better word, holiday.
It would seem that Earth Day as we know it was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, back in 1969. Nelson was in Seattle, WA, attending a conference and made a grand announcement of a nationwide demonstration for the environment. It would be 1970 when the first Earth Day was observed. 20 million Americans participated and many consider that April 22 to be the beginning of the modern environmental movement with goals being set on making the world a healthy and sustainable place.
Though we recognize April 22 as Earth Day, it wasn’t exclusively mid-April festivities that dominated the eco-friendly holidays. John McConnell first suggested a global holiday under the name “Earth Day” at a UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) conference in 1969, and that it be held on the day of the Spring equinox. The first official Earth Day proclamation was made by Mayor Joseph Alioto of San Francisco on March 21, 1970.
Eventually, the April version of the eco-holiday finally won and we have what we know today as Earth Day. To all those who rue and lament the day, or when others watch them more carefully when they don’t recycle, blame Senator Nelson. To those who appreciate his work to better the earth, thank him by doing your part. Recycle, compost, plant a tree, ride your bike instead of driving your car. Celebrate your Earth Day!
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