by mksummerbell

Earth Day. What a great day to start our exploration of holidays! Spring is here and we’re eager to be outside with grass and plants and trees coming alive with color after winter slumber. It’s the perfect time to spend a day in community – in appreciation, celebration and protection of our miraculous planet. Earth, with the Sun, gives us all life, and all we need to survive – air, food, water, shelter, clothing, medicine, transportation – and all the wonders and benefits of the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. Everything material we have comes from this planet. That’s why we call it Mother Earth, and what makes Earth Day also a kind of Mother’s Day. Double holiday.

In many ways Earth Day was a concept whose time had come. In 1962 Rachel Carson’s bestselling book, Silent Spring, with sales of 500,00 copies in 24 countries, was an alarming awakening in the way people thought of the effects of environmental pollution on their health. Evoking public awareness and concern, it set the stage for change. And, remember, the 1960’s and 70’s were the anti-establishment, hippy era of peace, love and “flower power.” The spirit of social protest was very alive in the Civil Rights movement & anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Even though some student activist leaders considered the environment to be a distraction from these priority issues, their successful strategies were ultimately applied to anti-pollution activities. 

Peace activist John McConnell is founder and creator of Earth Day, the Earth Society Foundation, and designer of the Earth Day flag, inspired by a picture taken in space on Apollo 17 – the first photo of Earth to grace the cover of Life magazine. At the 1969 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), Conference, John “proposed a global holiday to celebrate Earth’s life and beauty, advance peace and alert people to the need for preserving ecological balance.” That first Earth Day was March 21, 1970 – the Spring Equinox – a day of equal daylight and night at the equator. It was, and still is, celebrated in many cities with ringing of peace bells, including the United Nations Peace Bell in New York City. In June, 1970, John wrote the Earth Day Proclamation to “create worldwide awareness of the principles and responsibilities of caring for Earth.” It was signed by 36 world leaders, including Margaret Mead and UN Secretary General U Thant. 

Other forces strongly influenced the origins of another Earth Day. January 28, 1969, a Union Oil well drilled off the coast of California blew out, spewing three million gallons of oil on to land and ocean, killing 10,000 sea birds and creatures. People were outraged – and motivated. Many activists that advocated for environmental regulation and education were those on the front lines of the clean-up. The disaster also prompted some politicians to take action. After seeing 800 square miles of oil slick over Santa Barbara, US Senator Gaylord Nelson, (D) of WI (U-rah, rah, Wisconsin!), had the idea to create a national teach-in event, a project he cochaired with Pete Mc Closkey (R-CA). 

Timely and helpful turns of events boosted their efforts immensely. After hearing Gaylord speak, a New York Times reporter wrote a front-page article about Nelson’s environmental aspirations. Denis Hayes, a Harvard graduate student, activist and organizer, read the article and flew to Washington, D.C., for a ten-minute appointment to see Nelson. The meeting lasted two hours. And, two weeks later, Hayes was hired as national coordinator of the movement. Julien Koenig, a Madison Avenue advertising giant, stopped by the national offices to offer help. He suggested “Earth Day,” rhymes with birthday, as a name. The full-page ad he designed for the Sunday New York Times, which included a donation coupon, cost half of all the campaign’s funds. But it paid off – big time. Thousands of potential organizers sent in their names and phone numbers. Magazines and alternative newspapers ran the ad for free, generating more names and more money. Key partners played major roles in the process, including the biggest contributor, by far, the United Auto Workers, offering financial and operational support. Groups united in “rare political alignment” – Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, old and young, urban and rural, business and labor. 

April 22 was the date set, to make it easy for college students to participate, as it’s after Spring Break and before final exams. Then Denis Hayes spent a day reviewing letters coming in and discovered that very few of them were from college students. They were mostly from college-educated women – “homemakers who wanted to do something to improve the world for their children.” Many were from K-12 teachers – again, mostly women. He realized that they needed to shift their focus from college campuses to community organizing. They reached out to teachers’ organizations. And Hayes made a wise, far-reaching decision to seek no trademark protection for their logo or publications. He wanted the name to be used by anyone planning to focus involvement on the environment. Also, in communication with participants, he distributed the most creative and effective ideas from anyone to everyone else. 

Their first Earth Day came – April 22, 1970 – and, in near perfect weather almost everywhere, 20 million people hit the streets. 2,000 colleges and 10,000 primary and secondary public schools had planned activities. This participation represented ten per cent of the United States’ population at the time. New York City closed off two miles of 5th Avenue and four blocks of 14^th Street for their event. It was an extraordinary success. Denis Hayes defined it as, “something magical and catalytical.” In 1990 he took Earth Day international, organizing events in 141 countries. On Earth Day 2016, the Paris Agreement, including 175 countries, marked the most significant climate accord in history. The 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day, 2020, saw the largest online mass mobilization in history. Earth Day now is attended by more than a billion people in 193 countries. April 22 is the preferred day in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Before 1970 there were no legal regulations in the United States to protect the environment. After Earth Day, in December of 1970, the federal Environmental Protection Agency was formed. Within ten years more than a dozen laws were passed to regulate use of resources and reduce pollution, including the National Environmental Education Act, Occupational Safety Act, Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, Resource Conservation Act, Protection of Endangered Species Act and pollution, pesticide and mining control laws. Quite obviously, Earth Day has had a permanent impact on the mindframe, mindfulness, and politics of America – and an ongoing legacy of benefits worldwide. For his service in honoring and protecting the environment, Gaylord Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995. It is the highest honor given to civilians and only 30 senators have ever received it. 

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics.” Organizers are setting a goal of 60% reduction of plastic use by 2040. If we are willing to commit to reducing single-use plastics in our daily lives, we are encouraged to “Make one plastic-free choice at a time.” Suggestions are to “Say no” to plastic bags, straws, dinnerware and water bottles. Sustainable alternatives include reusable bags and water bottles, and carrying reuseable silverware in your car, purse or backpack. Earthday.org works 365 days a year. We can go there for information about volunteer opportunities, actual and live digital events, newsletters, advocacy actions and plenty of educational material. Earth Day is coming. I hope you are inspired to organize or be involved in a local activity or event. Remember – April 22. It’s a good day and a great opportunity to get out there and do something to show Mother Earth how much you love her.