Guest Author - Linda J. Paul
The first organized Earth Day celebration took place on March, 21, 1970, the vernal equinox of that year. John McConnell, a newspaper publisher and community activist was the founder. Earth Day was to become an annual observance of the relationship and responsibility all of humankind share in keeping the planet we live upon healthy and productive.
McConnell decided upon the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, and the first day of fall in the southern hemisphere, because it is a day of transition and renewal. The vernal equinox always falls on March 20 or 21st. On this day of perfect balance, night and day are the same length everywhere on Earth. John McConnell believed that this could also become a time of balance for all of humankind on Earth to put aside their differences and recognize the common need to preserve the precious resources of the Earth.
Secretary-General U Thant of the United Nations signed a proclamation stating that the U.N. would celebrate Earth Day annually on the vernal equinox. The United Nations still continues to celebrate Earth Day each year by ringing the Peace Bell at the United Nations headquarters in New York precisely at the moment of the vernal equinox.
So, if Earth Day is on the vernal equinox in March, why is it so widely celebrated on April 22?
Gaylord Nelson was an environmental activist and a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. He wanted to come up with an idea to prove to other U.S. political figures that there would be widespread public support for a political agenda based primarily on environmental issues. So, he started to organize the Environmental Teach-In, a nationwide day of environmental education. He called it Earth Day.
Through Nelson’s efforts, the new “Earth Day” event, held on April 22, 1970 was extremely successful, spinning off Earth Day celebrations at thousands of colleges and communities all across the United States. Over 20 million people showed their support for this special day.
Following Nelson’s first Earth Day celebration, Congress passed the Clean Air act, Clean Water act, Safe Drinking Water act, and several laws to protect wilderness areas. The EVP (Environmental Protection Agency), was created within three years after Nelson’s April 22, 1970 Earth Day celebration.
President Bill Clinton presented Gaylord Nelson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995, for his role in founding Earth Day, raising public awareness of environmental issues, and promoting environmental action.
I don’t think it matters when you celebrate Earth Day, as much as the message that Earth Day represents. Each of us have a personal responsibility to respect, honor and maintain the individual spaces we share with the Earth. The Earth is our eternal partner, not just for our generations, but for future generations. Without the Earth, we cannot exist as a species. And, we are at a time and place where we are facing extinction of many of the species that reside on this planet, including humankind. Timing and responsibility are of utmost importance if we, as a species, plan on survival. The Earth will go on, but we might not be around to see.
When one species threatens to overpopulate, become a menace to the survival of other species, or creates a “breach” in the natural rhythm inherent in nature, thinning of the herd is a natural solution.
Our planet is in a crisis due to global warming, overpopulation, and greed and laziness. What each of us chooses to do can and does effect the outcome of the survival of our species. If not for us, for the generations yet to come.
