In the late 1960s what we now know as the environmental movement was beginning in the United States. People looked around and saw polluted rivers, smog-filled air, mercury poisoned fish, and acid rain. They said, “Enough,” and began showing concern as to how the industrial world and urbanization was damaging the environment.
Lead-up to the First Before Earth Day
While many students and faculty on college campuses were busy protesting the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969, others were beginning to work for improved environmental quality. By late 1969, this concern had spilled over into high schools and civic groups. Much of the USA still didn’t care much about the environment, but those who did were beginning to make some noise.
A series of books helped start the movement. Silent Spring in 1962, The Population Bomb in 1968. Events also had an impact, such as oil spills near England in 1967 and Santa Barbara, California in 1968. Concern about nuclear fallout from above ground testing also fed into the growing concern about the environment.
In September 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson (D, Wisconsin) took note of the growing national concern, and proposed that the nation set aside a day—April 22, 1970—to focus on the environment. Nelson had toured the Santa Barbara coastal area and saw first hand the devastation that had happened. While flying to San Francisco, he read newspaper accounts about campus activism for the environment. The campuses were ahead of Washington DC. The idea for Earth Day came to him.
Intentions for the First Earth Day and Reaction and Results
Earth Day in 1970 was envisioned to be a nation-wide educational event, a teach-in on a huge scale in numerous locations. Nelson was offered the leadership of the event, but refused, believing it would be most effective with local leadership. He did, however, hire and assign some of his senatorial staff to coordinating the diverse events.
It is estimated that twenty million Americans, roughly one in ten of the entire population, participated in the first Earth Day. The events ranged from protest marches to sit-ins to classes to television programs. An amazing diversity of groups came together to heighten environmental awareness.
Besides the greater knowledge of and interest in the environment among the population, another result of the first Earth Day was the coming together of Republicans and Democrats to pass significant environmental legislation. The creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts all happened within a couple of years.
Earth Day Forty Years Later
Every year since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd. As issues have changed, so has the celebration. In the 1970s, major Federal legislation was needed to create national policy to first protect the environment from further degradation, then to clean up the messes already made.
The emphasis of Earth Day has remained the same: protecting the natural environment for its own sake, as well as for the healthy use and enjoyment of mankind and other species. The issues have changed, however, even as the results of prior Earth Days and legislation and practices have resulted in environmental improvements. Global warming (or climate change) and clean energy have replaced clean air and water as the dominant issues. Raw sewage is rarely dumped into rivers or oceans any more, and the current concern for clean water is non-point source contamination of stormwater.
Earth Day has surpassed its USA roots and is now a worldwide phenomenon. It is estimated that over 200 million people in close to 150 countries will participate this year. Education is still a big emphasis, as it influencing legislation. Developing nations realize that they should not develop with a lack of concern for the environment, as the developed nations did before they knew better. Reducing the carbon footprint of development is a concern. Service projects are planned in many countries.
Earth Day is as relevant in 2010 as it was in 1970. While certain aspects of the environment has seen marked improvements, other aspects could still spell peril for the planet. Earth Day 2010 seeks to bring emphasis to these areas.
Related Articles:
Gaylord Nelson's Role in the First Earth Day
Environmental Progress in the 1960s
References:
"Earth Day Network", a web site dedicated to the history of and current events for Earth Day
"Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day", a web site dedicated to the work of Senator Gaylord Nelson related to Earth Day
US Environmental Protection Agency web site.
Facts on File Yearbook 1970, published by Facts On File, NY, NY, 1971, ISBN 0-87195-029-X
David A. Todd - David Todd is a civil engineer, a genealogist, a citizen concerned with the environment, and a writer by passion.
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