Earth Day is an annual event that takes place on April 22nd of every year to show support for environmental protection. This special day was first celebrated on April 22nd, 1970.
The idea for Earth Day came from a man named Senator Gaylord Nelson in response to the alarming pollution levels present in the United States during the 1960s. At the time, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect the environment, and this issue was not receiving the attention it deserved. Senator Nelson saw the need to bring attention to this issue on the national agenda, and so he created Earth Day as a way to do just that.
The choice of April 22nd as the date was carefully selected. It falls between colleges’ spring break and final exams, making it an ideal time to gather people together for a cause. Additionally, Arbor Day, which encourages people to plant trees, also falls around this time, providing an extra reason to celebrate our planet.
On the first Earth Day in 1970, an estimated 20 million people across the United States attended various events at tens of thousands of sites, including schools, universities, and community centers. The event was a huge success and helped to bring much needed attention to the importance of protecting our planet.