Earth Day – April 22, 2008

You probably have noticed Earth Day on your April
calendar and you may have wondered what, exactly, is
it?

Earth Day came about after six years of effort from
then Senator Gaylord Nelson, who, back in the 1960s,
had the foresight to look at the long term impact of
pollution on the environment. He was instrumental in
getting his message out to college students, who took
this issue on with concern and enthusiasm for this
project. Earth Day became a National Awareness day on
January 20, 1970, with the date set for celebration as
April 22 of every year. In 2007, it is estimated that
one billion people recognized Earth Day in some way.

Internationally, Earth Day is celebrated at different
times, in approximately 175 countries. In the northern
hemisphere, it is observed in the spring; in the
southern hemisphere, Earth Day is observed in the
fall.

The purpose of Earth Day was to raise awareness of
environmental issues, promote education about the
issue, and to advocate for a healthy and sustainable
planet. Many schools have taken Earth Day a step
further to incorporate extended teaching of
environmental issues and observe Earth Week.

To find events in your area, or to get ideas for
helping you commemorate this special day, go to
www.earthdaynetwork.com. Get involved in helping in
your community, whatever the needs may be. Every city
has a park, street or stream that needs cleaning up,
and it takes only a few volunteers to make a huge
difference. Take the time to learn about how you can
help preserve this planet for future generations. They
will thank you for it!