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The History and importance of earth day

In the late 1960s, while America was engrossed in anti-war marches and cultural milestones, environmental concerns were not at the forefront of societal issues. This changed dramatically following the catastrophic oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969, which led to significant ecological damage affecting marine life and coastal areas.

Inspired by this environmental crisis, former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin initiated Earth Day. Leveraging the energy of the era’s anti-war protests, Nelson aimed to elevate air and water pollution issues to a national priority. This mobilization led to the inaugural Earth Day in 1970, where 20 million Americans united to advocate for environmental protection, culminating in the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by year-end.

Now, Earth Day is a global phenomenon observed by over a billion people in 193 countries, serving as a call to action to preserve and protect our environment.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated by more than 1 billion people across 193 countries. It is a day to not only increase awareness of what we all can do to protect our plants, animals, and environment but also to take action.

5 Earth Day Activities for a Greener Tomorrow

This year, join in the movement to make a difference for our planet with these simple Earth Day activities.

1. Get to Know Your Recyclables
   • Recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse emissions, but it’s important to understand what can and cannot be recycled. For example, even though many small plastic caps are recyclable, they can only be recycled if they are secured to the bottle; otherwise, these caps need to go in the trash. Use this Recyclopedia to look up whether items should be recycled or disposed of in the trash.  
2. Keep the Keys on the Counter
   • Instead of driving, use alternative methods of transportation such as walking, biking, or public transportation. These are a few good ways we can lower car emissions.
3. Fix the Leak
   • Maybe it’s the kitchen faucet that drips or the shower handle that leaks. Taking steps to reduce the amount of water we use
     saves energy required to gather, clean, and deliver water.
4. Start Composting
   • Reduce the amount of organic waste that goes into your landfill. Start backyard composting—in a GEOBIN Composter. Deposit your household kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and yard waste in the composter.
5. Enjoy Nature Around You
   • Whether it is going on a hike or visiting your local park, take some time to look at the world around you, reminding yourself why it is worth saving.

For a listing of Earth Day events happening near you, head over to EarthDay.org. Earth Day may only last 24 hours, but if we take the time to change just one of our daily habits, imagine the positive long-lasting impact this could have on the world around us.