| During
the late 1960's, a concern for the environment began and emerged into
the public view with people such as Ralph Nader (safety issues) and many
others fighting the pollution of our waters by huge corporations --
especially chemical plants.
But the idea
of preserving our environment wasn't a new idea. Actually,
explorers, writers, poets, naturalists, artists, photographers in the
past were all speaking out about saving the beauty of what they saw.
Naturalists
like John Muir (founder of Yosemite National Park), John J. Audubon
(Audubon Society for Birds) and Henry David Thoreau (writer) were
already fighting to save the American wilderness from destruction
through so-called progress.
It was through
their efforts that the national park system in the United States were
developed. And other nature groups like the Sierra Club and the
Wilderness Society.
But years
later, in 1962 a writer named Rachel Carson wrote a book called
"Silent Spring" in which she really brought the message to the
American public of saving the environment. She warned people about
the deadly effects of chemical pollution, and was the catalyst behind
the passing of federal laws banning DDT and other harmful agricultural
chemicals.
But, it was
really Senator Gaylord Nelson (not Ira Einhorn --- see links below) who
came up with the idea for setting aside a day to honor the environment
in which we live. This "Earth Day" resolution was passed by 42
states. Senator Nelson's resolution was to hold a
"teach-in" day. This meant a full day of rallies,
speeches, lectures, marches or parades and other programs (depending on
the area) designed to raise public awareness of the hazards facing our
environement.
Senator
Gaylord Nelson is also credited with being the first Senator to
introduce the bill banning DDT. He later then sponsored numerous
bills preserving the Appalachian Trail and other wild scenic areas in
the United States.
(P.S. I've
walked on part of that trail and it's really cool to know that others
before you like Daniel Boone walked there too.)
The first
Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. More than 20 million
Americans took to the streets to demonstrate their concerns for making a
safer environment.
How cities
celebrated Earth Day varied. Some, to help cut down on auto emissions,
lowered bus fares that day to get more people to take the bus and do
mass transportation than drive cars. At Boston's Logan
Airport, 200 demonstrators carried empty coffins into the airport as a
protest against noise-pollution because the airport had plans to
expand. Others even did more sticky and drastic expressions such
as dumping garbage on the steps of their local government buildings like
courthouses, or state legislature steps.
Mayor John
Lindsay of New York led a march that closed down part of the city's
Fifth Avenue (one of their busiest commercial streets in the world.)
In Washington,
D.C. more than 200,000 gathered on the Mall in front of the Capitol
building to encourage government officials and their fellow citizens to
preserve the wilderness and the earth's natural resources.
The
observation of Earth Day has lost some of it's original enthusiasm, but
that hasn't stopped it from spreading worldwide over the past 30
years. It is now estimated that approximately 200 million people
in 136 countries celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Earth Day
movement.
| April
22 is also Arbor Day, which emphasizing planting of trees. We
did a page on that too. |
 |
If you
are wondering why I have not mentioned that Ira Einhorn started Earth
Day or anything about him it's because of all the controversy.
And, I like to be as accurate as I can and so I am providing links below
to those who want to learn about that area concerned with Earth
Day.
But, it's
not recommended for children! I'd say more teens? Parents and
teachers you decide. |
