Earth Day, celebrated every April 22nd, marks a pivotal moment in environmental history. It originated in 1970, when the term “environmental protection” was barely a part of public discourse. The idea to create a national holiday was sparked by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and prior to that the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962.
Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, was conscious of the environmental struggles around him and was inspired by the student held anti-war movement occuring at the time. He received help from Denis Haynes, a young activist at the time, to organize campus teach-ins in universities across Wisconsin. This led to the first Earth day being held on April 22nd, 1970. The events took place in the week between spring break and final exams to maximize the number of students able to participate. Although it started as small campus wide discussions this program became a nation wide phenomenon, with over 20 million Americans rallying for a more sustainable planet.
After the initial organizations happened, the impact became immediate. Earth Day has led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and legislation enactments like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. People were able to become unified and overlook political and social lines to cooperate for the environment. Over time, Earth Day has evolved into a global event, and is currently celebrated in over 190 countries. It has become an important reminder that we collectively need to work together to protect natural habitats, reduce pollution, and combat climate change.
Earth day can easily be brought into schools to foster environmental awareness, and create a sense of responsibility in younger generations. San Marcos’s world history teacher Mr. Tragarz spoke about how Earth Day can easily be integrated into science curriculums, which would almost pay homage to the initial earth day events held by Senator Nelson and Denis Haynes.
As environmental issues continue to grow more urgent, Earth Day remains a sense of inspiration and hope, reminding us that change begins with awareness. Working together we can help shape a more sustainable future.
