This week, we celebrated our 54th Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans came together to protest the damage happening to our Earth and initiated conversations about finding a better way. That protest was the first Earth Day. As celebrate Earth Day this year, the original focuses of 1970 are just as relevant today as they were 54 years ago. Earth Day is about how each one of us can make a difference.
As we celebrate this week, it’s important to think back to the day’s grassroots origins and call attention to the global risks, from climate change to plant and animal extinction. Celebrating the natural world and the life and support it gives us is important. So get outside. Look around and notice the changes that spring brings to the natural world. Breathe the fresh air. And then share that joy with others to help call attention to the importance of protecting our most valuable resource.
Gaylord Nelson, the senator credited with organizing the first Earth Day and ardent supporter of environmental protection, reflected on the first Earth Day on its 10th anniversary, writing: “So long as the human species inhabits the Earth, proper management of its resources will be the most fundamental issue we face. Our very survival will depend upon whether we can preserve, protect, and defend our environment.”
How will you “preserve, protect, and defend our environment” in celebration of this Earth Day (and every day)? To learn more about Earth Day and what you can do, check out EarthDay.Org or the EPA Earth Day site. Check out last week’s blog post for all the details on the 2024 Earth Day theme and what you can do to reduce your use of plastic.
Image: Lentochka | iStock | Getty Images Plus