Earth Day

Conserving our planet’s resources and being mindful of the consequences of what we do as occupants it are very important. Not until the 1960’s and early 70’s was this made a nationwide issue.

With a huge rise in political and social activism, the environment was another very important element that needed to be addressed. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was the biggest advocate of environmental awareness and though he already passed legislation in congress, the issue was not on the nation’s list of priorities. Since college campuses nation-wide were in constant state of protest mainly against the Vietnam War, and other inequality issues as well, Senator Nelson saw the potential to bring the environmental issue a mainstay in the America psyche. He sent a memo to President J.F. Kennedy and received confirmation that a national Earth Day would be observed. The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, far surpassing what Sen. Nelson had expected. The nation mobilized and over 2 million participants peacefully protested environmental reform from the US government.

Since that first Earth Day in 1970, the momentum has not been slowed. In 2000, over 184 COUNTRIES observed April 22 and had at least 5,000 environmental organizations participate for global awareness. April 22 was chosen as the day in memory of an influential worker and actor Eddie Albert. Sharing this birthday is Vladimir Lenin, whose connection with this day seems to be coincidence, but also Julius Sterling Morton, who was the founder of Arbor Day, a day dedicated to planting trees started in Nebraska.

Here in Chico, California, Earth Day was observed three days earlier on April 19^th. The City of Chico focused attention on five sites to be worked on in Bidwell Park by volunteers for a three hour period. Volunteer work included restoring trails, clearing construction debris and liter and weed removal, but training was also available for those interested in maintaining the quality of the creek that runs through Bidwell Park.

Earth Day is a huge deal. It brings attention to an issue that affects the world’s population and without it, the world would be in much worse shape than it already is. Before the first Earth Day in 1970, America’s automotive industry was not held accountable for what it’s cars emissions were and what affect that had on air-quality. Nowadays, the country demands better, more efficient engines. Also, organically grown agriculture is becoming increasingly popular over the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Without Earth Day from Senator Gaylord Nelson, and the unimaginable number of volunteers that have not let the movement fade away, the planet would definitely be in much tighter spot than it is.