Earth Day - Annual celebrations to increase the awareness and appreciation for the earth's environment - April 22, 1970

Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin began a campaign to bring awareness to environmental issues in 1962. After eight years of campaigning, the first official Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. American Heritage Magazine described it as “one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy” and showed the American country’s – and the world’s – concern over the environment. Modeled after the Vietnam war protests, Earth Day was a grassroots event to spread awareness about the environment.

Nelson believed that education was the best way to influence people and highlight the issues with the environment. Nelson directly credits later environmental legislation such as the highly important Clear Air Act to the celebration and support of Earth Day. The Clean Air Act protected drinking water, wild land and the oceans of the United States. More than 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day. Participants joined in from 2,000 colleges, 10,000 elementary and middle schools, and dozens of communities. Today, it is observed by more than 500 million people in over 170 countries and is the largest secular holiday celebrated in the world.

http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html