We celebrate Earth Day every year on 22nd April, a day that focuses on raising awareness of environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices. But how did Earth Day come about, and why is it so important?
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, following a massive oil spill off the coast of California the previous year. Senator Gaylord Nelson, inspired by the student anti-war movement, envisioned a national day to focus on the environment and raise awareness about pollution. He enlisted the help of Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the event.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest environmental ignorance and demand action from the government. This event marked the beginning of Earth Day, and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and landmark environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
Today, Earth Day is celebrated in more than 190 countries around the world, and the theme changes every year to reflect current environmental challenges. The theme for 2023 is "Invest in our planet".
“We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest In Our Planet,” - Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.
Earth Day aims to unite people across the globe in a shared mission to protect our planet and create a sustainable future.