Earth Day is a global event dedicated to protecting the planet and raising awareness about environmental issues such as pollution, climate change, and deforestation. First celebrated on April 22, 1970, Earth Day now gathers more than one billion people each year to take action through tree planting, cleanup campaigns, and support for sustainable policies.
According to Nelsonearthday.net, the concept behind Earth Day was created by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1969. Before serving in the Senate, Nelson was the governor of Wisconsin. He was inspired to create Earth Day after touring Santa Barbara, California, and witnessing the devastating effects of a massive oil spill. After seeing the damage, he became determined to speak out and take action. He hoped to recreate the success of the anti-Vietnam War teach-ins by organizing people and building public support for environmental protection.
Despite Nelson’s strong leadership in environmental protection, he struggled to motivate colleagues in Congress to take action on environmental issues. He’d hoped for a massive grassroots destruction that would convince Congress to make environmental protection a top political priority, forcing them to recognize the importance of clean air, water, and cities for the public.
“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air, water, and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all human beings and all other living creatures,” said Nelson.
The official “Earth Day” was created in 1970 by EarthDay.org, which notes that the day exists to raise awareness of environmental issues and to encourage people to support their protection. Examples of how you can help protect the planet are using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags, volunteering in clean-ups in your neighborhood, and planting trees to help the production of oxygen, energy, and clean air.
Other ways you can help make a healthier planet are adding reusable utensils to your everyday bag, organizing a beach cleanup, and fighting climate change with a healthier diet. Two sources for finding more ways to protect the planet include the National Ocean Service and Earthday.org.
If you want to enjoy the outdoors this Earth Day, check out nearby Pleasant Grove, a scenic area where you can visit and walk along up to 22 miles of trails. Or, you can hike the Woodlands, a series of trails on the FCHS property off the bus ramp. Click here for a map of the Woodlands.
