Earth Day

2009-04-22

Earth Day was first celebrated by 20 million people in 1970. This was also the year that President Richard Nixon created the EPA with the mission to protect the environment and public health. During the time of the first Earth Day, the world was not in such great shape. Rivers were polluted and caught fire, people breathed in smoke filled air and diseases spread like wild fire. The world has made a lot of progress since those days, and people strive more than ever before to make our planet a clean and healthy place to live.

There is some discrepancy about who the father of Earth Day really is and on which day it should be celebrated. Many claim John McConnell is the founder of Earth Day and that Earth Day should be celebrated on March 20th. Others dispute Senator Gaylord Nelson deserves the recognition and that Earth Day should be celebrated on April 22nd.

John McConnell

John McConnell's Earth Day event was recognized at a United Nations conference in October 1969. McConnell envisioned Earth Day to be set for March 20th 1970, which is the same day as the Vernal Equinox.

Gaylord Nelson

The Environmental Protection Agency credits Senator Gaylord Nelson as the founder of Earth day. Nelson cared a lot about the future of the environment and how the U.S. should work for a better future. Nelson was aware of McConnell's actions and plans for Earth Day and wanted McConnell to get on board with him for his movement. However, McConnell moved to continue with his own plans. Nelson gathered millions of people together to celebrate his Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970.

If you choose to look at the situation in chronological order, McConnell's Earth Day celebrated on March 20th, 1970 appears as the original Earth Day. Although there is mention by Nelson and his staff that an environmental teach-in during 1962 would eventually escalate into Earth Day and therefor has earlier roots. You can decide which is the true Earth Day, and which one you want to celebrate of course.

Earth Day Today

Earth Day is now an International Celebration of efforts to make the world a cleaner and healthier place to live. Everyday people are encouraged to do their part, however small it may be to make the world safer for the coming generations. Whether it is planting trees, using energy efficient light bulbs, recycling or even carpooling. Join the Celebration and the movement for change.