What is Earth Day and Why is it Celebrated?

During the 1970’s, environmental issues began to catch the attention of American citizens. The first Earth Day was organized to address harmful effects of air, water, and pesticides. This day served as a precursor to the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin was one of the early organizers of the first Earth Day. Nelson was convinced that the environment was being destroyed and that it was time to address this issue. He wanted to motivate a new movement to combat environmental issues. He also wanted to inspire the energy that had motivated the anti-war movement.

Nelson’s idea for the first Earth Day was to hold widespread protests against environmental degradation. He recruited environmental activist Denis Hayes to coordinate events. The first Earth Day was held in April 1970. The event was estimated to involve 20 million people.

The first Earth Day was also an important catalyst for the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act. It was the first time that the environmental movement was placed on a national political agenda.

Earth Day was a response to a major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in January 1969. This spill caused an environmental disaster that resulted in the death of more than 10,000 marine animals. The operation was part of Union Oil Platform A.

The first Earth Day sparked national media attention and encouraged individuals to take action to protect the environment. The event became international in 1990.