What is Earth Day?

Many of us have heard of Earth Day but don't really know what it is. Some have described Earth Day as a birthday of sorts for the planet. Of course, it is not the date that the planet was actually born, but it is a celebration of the planet that we live on and provides for us in so many ways. The day has been celebrated since 1970 and has only become bigger and better with each passing year.

It was in 1970 that a man by the name of Gaylord Nelson, a member of the United States Senate, stated that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide celebration and demonstration for our environment. Nelson created the day in hopes of putting the environment on the front burner of the national agenda because up until that point a good deal of people took the earth's resources for granted.

In 1970, Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd and it has continued to be celebrated on that date in the United States every since. Since this day, people around the world have learned they can't take the environment for granted and that there is something they can do. Earth Day teaches people they can help the pollution in the air and water, they can conserve water and electricity, and that they can control the litter on the streets and in the landfills. It has been said that modern day environmentalism was born on April 22, 1970.

On the first Earth Day people from all different classes, races, and places in life hit the streets, parks, and even theatres to demonstrate their desire for a sustainable environment and their hopes that they could help make it happen. Many colleges and organizations held parades and protests to make others aware of what they could do to help protect the environment, and why it was important to do so.

It was the first Earth Day that allowed for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be created and through this agency many different acts have been passed to protect the people and our environment. Some of the important acts that have been passed include the Clean Air Act, Clear Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Twenty years after the creation of Earth Day it was even bigger than ever. By the time April 22, 1990 rolled around there were more than 200 million people who were in on the celebration, with those numbers coming from 141 different countries! In 1990, Earth Day helped to reiterate the importance of recycling and really did make it a worldwide issue. Seventeen years later in 2007, Earth Day was even larger with an estimated one billion people celebrating the day and campaigning for a sustainable environment. Earth Day is special because it is the only event that is celebrated all around the world on the same day without consideration of the background, faith, or nationality of those celebrating.