Every April 22 , millions of people around the universe gain to keep Earth Day . Through festivals , activities , and rallies , participants promoteawareness of environmental issuesand help oneself protect the planet .
The seeds of Earth Day were planted in the sixties , when a minuscule but vocal chemical group of scientist and environmentalists became more and more interested that pesticides , sewage and industrial pollutant were poisoning the melodic line and water and threatening the Earth . Dramatic result like the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland , Ohio ( which reportedly started when sparks from a blow torch take fire pollution and oil on the river ’s surface ) only stirred the populace ’s worries about the state of the surroundings .
During this clip , Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin also was contract concerned about the health of the environment — and the U.S. government ’s apparent want of aid to it . In 1963 , he convincedPresident John F. Kennedyto go on an 11 - country conservation term of enlistment . But even the democratic president ’s impassioned pleas were n’t enough to convey the environment into the political glare .
Senator Nelson continued pursuing the effort , speaking to hearing throughout the country over the next few years . In 1969 , he noticed that Vietnam War protests call off " teach - In " were gain popularity on college campus across the country , and he think , why not orchestrate the same eccentric of objection on behalf of the environment ? The approximation for Earth Day was accept .
Senator Nelson enrol Harvard Law School student and environmental activist Denis Hayes to ordinate the events . On April 22 , 1970 , 20 million people gathered across the state to show their support for the surround on the very first Earth Day .
The effect were far larger than any protest occurring at the sentence .
In New York City alone , 10,000 citizenry gathered for concerts , lecture and rallies . More than 2,000 colleges and university exchange from their ongoing anti - war protests to join in pro - Earth celebrations . Even Congress adjourn for the day .
Earth Day was credit with putting environmental payoff on the political map and launching the environmental crusade in the United States .
In 1990 , Earth Day became a globose event . Two hundred million people around the earth tell on striking show of environmental musical accompaniment , such as a 500 - mile human chain in France . In 2000 , Earth Day recruit cyberspace , with electronic mail and live connection events bolstering involvement .
Earth Day did n’t just conjure up sentience for environmental issues ; it was instrumental in the constitution of several government initiatives .
In 1970 , President Richard Nixon make the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) to supervise and safeguard the health of the nation ’s air and water system . The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protected threaten creature around the Earth . People everywhere commence reprocess and maintain water and Department of Energy .
Today , Earth Day continues to be celebrated by people around the world . Despite the great progression that has been made since the first Earth Day , however , environmentalists realize that there is still much more that postulate to be done to protect and preserve the planet .
Earth Day FAQ
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