50th Anniversary Earth Day Extravaganza!
Since 1970, communities and activists have celebrated Earth Day on April 22. On this day, people all over the world show their support for environmental protection, advocating and working to make our planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us. This year, for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the theme is climate change.
The History of Earth Day
It’s hard to believe, but in the not-so-distant past, an American factory could spew black clouds of poisonous smoke into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and it was all perfectly legal. Until the late 20th century, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment: no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act.
Concern for the plight of the planet, and the movement of environmentalism, really began growing in the 1960s. The 1962 publication of the book Silent Spring, in which author Rachel Carson documented the harmful effects of indiscriminate pesticide use, was instrumental in bringing environmental issues into the public consciousness.
In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson initiated the first Earth Day. He’d been inspired by a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which killed tens of thousands of marine animals and left the water a polluted mess. “The objective [of Earth Day] was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy,” Senator Nelson said.
That first year, some twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities… and their efforts worked! In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Air Act of 1963 was significantly amended in 1970, and the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972.
Earth Day Now
Today, Earth Day has grown into a global event, celebrated by more than a billion people across almost 200 countries. Efforts to support and participate in Earth Day include citizen science (community science); advocacy; volunteering; education; special events; and environmental artwork. The Earth Day Network offers many opportunities to join and follow the global environmentalism movement both on Earth Day and throughout the year. We encourage you to check their website for advocacy and volunteer resources!
For something closer to home, the Discovery Center will be posting crafts, resources, activities throughout the day, with the aim of learning about—and appreciating the beauty in—our very own home planet. We hope you’ll celebrate with us!
