Earth Day

The very first Earth Day was observed on Thursday, April 22, 1970. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency credits Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin as the brainchild of the event. Senator Nelson recruited the aid of Republican Pete McCloskey to serve as co-chairman and Denis Hayes from Harvard to stage a "national teach-in on the environment." That title did not stick and was shortly referred to as Earth Day. April 22 was selected as the date because it fell between colleges' and universities' Spring Break and Final Exams. Even though others, anthropologist Margaret Meade and peace activist John McConnell have sought to change the date to the March equinox, it has been held on every April 22 since 1970 as the date for expressing environmental concerns and practicing ecological efforts of environmental awareness. Earth Day 1970 marked the beginning of Governments response to the public's concern over environmental issues.

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Environmental concerns prior to Earth Day 1970 were overshadowed by industrial and economic developments, concerns of communism, and the Vietnam War. Anti-war rallies called teach-ins held at higher education campuses inspired Gaylord Nelson to create a national teach-in with the environment as the topic. With the aid of Pete McCloskey, Denis Hayes, and a Hayes' managed national staff of 85 people, Senator Nelson organized the first Earth Day. The event was made popular throughout the United States by various forms of media such as various newspaper articles promoting the event. 

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Earth Day 1970 was such a success that the U.S. Federal Government responded to the demands of its citizen through the formation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and reforms to various environmental laws. This marked the beginning of an Environmental Movement across the nation. In 1990, to mark the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, Denis Hayes organized another campaign of environmental concern with the goal of global awareness. The focus of Earth Day 1990 was on recycling efforts--recycle, reduce, reuse. Once again, Hayes' efforts was a success, with 141 countries and 200 million people's participation in the event. Earth Day 1990 marked a globally-shared effort on protection of Earth's environment. 

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Today, Earth Day is celebrated world-wide as a means for organized events to educate or promote environmental issues. It is the first globally recognized holiday.