Every April 22nd of the year, Earth Day is celebrated, an annual event dedicated to the environmental awareness of the planet. Earth Day provides insight into what can be done to further preserve our home and has been celebrated since the first Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970. Every year, Earth Day offers a wide range of activities to participate in. For example, you can show your love for the planet through many eco-friendly activities, such as walking or biking to reduce your carbon footprint, donating to supportive charities, recycling, reducing waste, and cleaning up trash from the environment.
The origins of Earth Day begin with the Wisconsin senator, Gaylord Nelson, and student Denis Hayes, who were inspired to act in response to the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill, where over 3 million gallons of oil spilled into the California coast. Together with the help of organizations such as the United Auto Workers (UAW), the date April 22nd was chosen as a time to act, as it took place comfortably within the spring, and thus, Earth Day was established.
During the first few Earth Days, people showed their love for the planet by participating in environmental reforms and protests, all dedicated to telling the government the importance of prioritizing the economy through the creation of acts, such as the Clean Air Act, which reduced air pollution; the Clean Water Act, which regulated water pollution; and the Endangered Species Act, which prevented the extinction of multiple plants and animals.
The Earth is something to be cared for and protected, as it is what brings everyone together. To quote American astronomer Carl Sagan, “From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of particular interest. But for us, it’s different. Consider again that dot. That’s here, that’s home, that’s us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, and every human being who ever lived lived out their lives.” Our planet is much more and must be protected, as it is our home and what brings us all together.