Your Guide To Green

The Earth gives us so many gifts, so how about we return the favor? From the earth we receive the natural resources to sustain our population, beautiful flora and fauna to tickle our senses, and wonderful land on which to live. Having given us so many fabulous things, it is time to give back and pamper the earth every day, but especially on April 22 - Earth Day. This international day is devoted to celebrating and honoring the planet on which we live.

It all started in 1962 when Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin being concerned about the condition of our natural landscape, alerted President John F. Kennedy of the situation. Kennedy went on a conservation tour across the U.S. to raise awareness about the state of our environment, but there was little reaction. With the Vietnam conflict weighing heavy on everyone’s minds, environmental concerns did not surface in the political limelight.

However Senator Nelson did not give up and in 1969 he called for environmental "teach-ins",to be modeled after the ones conducted during the Vietnam War. A "teach-in" is a peaceful protest held primarily among the student population. They provided a forum for the American people to express their concerns about the treatment of the land, water, rivers, lakes, and air. And so was born the concept of Earth Day -- a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the environment.

At a conference in September of 1969 he announced that there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration about the environment and everyone was invited to participate. The first Earth Day was born in 1970 and attracted participation by more than 20 million people. As a result of the outpouring of support received that day, United States President Richard Nixon was prompted to create the EPA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. This point in history marks the beginning of the current environmental movement that continues to gain impetus as more people express their concern for the environment and request that sustainable practices be incorporated into the mainstream.

Today, 37 years later, Earth Day is the largest secular holiday in the world. Celebrated by over 500 million people and 175 national governments across the world, April 22 stands for a day to get involved in your community by participating in clean-up events, addressing global climate change, and giving the Earth some T.L.C. Today, there is a marked improvement in the environmental quality since Earth Day was instituted: air quality is greatly improved, the loss of wetlands is being reversed and rehabilitation of abandoned industrial sites is accelerating. Earth Day is definitely giving the planet a voice.

Several factors led to Senator Nelson's choice of April 22. It is the birthday of early eco-activist and television star Eddie Albert, as well as the birthday of Julius Sterling Orton, the founder of Arbor Day, which is also celebrated on April 22. Check out the wide selection of "green" products that are listed in our shopping area www.yourguidetogreen.com/store/, and sign up to receive our weekly Innovation Idea at www.yourguidetogreen.com/connect/newsletter.php.

Look for events in your community on Keep America Beautiful website www.kab.org or for activities with your kids at www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/.
www.epa.gov/earthday/history.htm
www.earthday.org/
earthday.envirolink.org/history.html