EARTH DAY: ORIGIN STORY

Have you ever wondered how Earth Day came to be? Through many past events, the world has pushed strongly for a better planet. After each effort we’ve been through, we continue to aim for a better future.  

In the early 1960s, during the Vietnam War and anti-war protests, masses of Americans also began to recognize the effects of pollution on the environment.  

In 1969, a major oil tanker accident near Santa Barbara led to a turning point for environmental action. Being the largest oil spill to affect California waters, it significantly impacted the local environment, killing local marine life and sea birds. This devastating event inspired a strong reaction.

The person who would found Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson, realized that if he could convince the anti-war movements, the media, and the public’s mindset about the dangers of air and water pollution, this would push environmental protection into the political agenda.  

A few months after, a fire on downtown Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River showed Americans the dire consequence of chemical waste disposal in water bodies. The river had an oil slick layer across the water, with decades of similar waste having been dumped into the river. Since 1868 the river experienced 13 separate fires, prior to yet another. This new incident was the only recorded fire to cause $100,000 in damage to two railroads, however. 

This event further influenced Americans to protect the planet’s natural resources and later led to the passage of the federal Clean Water Act in 1972. There may have been movements pushing for positive actions for the Earth and recycling at the time, but not much activism based on air and water pollution.  

On April 22, 1970 nearly 20 million Americans took part in a newly designated day of recognition, called Earth Day, with demonstrations and other action taken to support a healthy, sustainable environment. By 1990, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes, who had helped to launch the initial event, to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global: About 200 million people, from more than 140 countries, lifted environmental issues onto a world stage.

So, just a reminder to everyone out there: Earth rocks!

Watch out for events on or around April 22, and do something for the planet.