Earth Day has been a spotlight for environmental and worldly issues for generations. Originating in 1970, this day provides a voice to emerging and ever-present environmental topics such as global warming, air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and many more. The creation of Earth Day started in 1969 with Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin. He recognized the political environment of his time and used it to cultivate outrage and interest about water and air pollution. Capitalizing on the recent buzz around Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”, the anti war movement, and a recent huge oil spill in California, he quickly began to spread the word about his Earth Day idea. Recruiting senators from both sides of the political spectrum, youth activists, and college professors he gained a nationwide staff of 85 members and lots of media attention. They chose April 22nd as the official date because it was between Spring Break and Final Exams, so student engagement would be maximized. Senator Nelson’s idea was a success. 20 million Americans protested, spoke out, and marched on Earth Day to express their concerns about our planet. Earth Day helped lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and many environmental laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. By 1990, Earth Day had gone global.
Now, billions of people around the world participate in Earth Day as the safety and security of our planet becomes a more pressing issue. You can find local projects and marches to participate in on Earth Day via earthday.org. These include environmental literacy symposiums, group gardening programs, and community conservation efforts.
The University of Cincinnati has a whole Earth week with these kinds of activities running from April 12th to 16th. Above is the Earth Week calendar, in which you can find activities you can get involved in and enjoy! UC’s Earth Week is a great way to raise awareness about environmental issues while also keeping the Bearcat community strong. All events are virtual via webex. Email green@uc.edu for event links or questions.