The idea for Earth Day actually started eight years before it officially began. In 1962, Senator Gaylord Nelson, growing concerned about the state of the environment, met with Robert Kennedy with the idea of President Kennedy going on a conservation and environmental awareness tour. The tour, which took place in eleven states in 1963, didn't do much to help the cause. Senator Nelson eventually realized that if the government was going to think about environmental policy, it would have to start at the grassroots level. In 1969, he announced "a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment" to take place the following year, and in 1970, Earth Day was born.
Today, thanks to the awareness of environmental issues brought on by Earth Day, we have governmental policies in place to protect the environment, recycling programs in most cities, a greater awareness and availability of organic foods, and a growing number of "green" products that lessen the damage done to our environment. That said, we know that there is much much more to do, now more than ever. Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate - dramatic evidence of that is seen in these satellite images. Reliance on oil and gas leave the earth not only scarred, damaged, and poisoned, but dangerous, as well. Water aquifers are depleting all over the world due to non-sustainable farming practices, and ever-growing landfills will leak their toxins into the groundwater and surrounding land.
Many of these larger issues are ones that can only come about by government involvement, but many are issues where, if we do our part, we can help lessen the damage to earth. Many things you might already do, like recycling paper, plastic, and glass, but did you know about these fifty things that you can recycle? Using environmentally friendly cleaning products is another easy, and many times less expensive way, to help cut back on environmental damage. Vinegar is one of the best cleaners anywhere, and won't pollute the environment or hurt children or animals.
So, this Earth Day, take one more step in the Earth-friendly direction and do your part. Want to participate in an official Earth Day event? Check here to see what's going in your area, and celebrate forty years of speaking up for our beautiful planet!
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