Happy 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! This day in 1970 was the beginning of the modern environmental movement. In prior years, industrial America contributed to a great deal of air pollution, as well as other negative impacts on the planet. After seeing the energy present in the student anti-war movement of the time, Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin believed the same passion could be channeled into helping the environment. Luckily, a growing awareness of air and water pollution was occurring in response to Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring," published in 1962. Using college campuses as his main platform, Nelson and his team of 85 people were able to organize events on April 22, 1970 across the nation, rallying people to protest the destruction of the planet. This monumental day brought unity and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the first set of environmental laws. The first global celebration of Earth Day was in 1990, with the observance continually gathering momentum since. The planet is currently attempting to reset itself in light of recent changes to human activity. We should view this as a sign of hope that it is not too late to act. There is no better time to celebrate Earth Day today and every day!
Sunrise in Long Branch, NJ; Kelly Saverino
https://www.earthday.org/history/