The 21st Annual Earth Day is April 22, 2015 !
By Ted Beringer
Sacramento Earth Day Logo by Dana Gray
The founding of Earth Day is attributed to Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. In 1963 he convinced President John F. Kennedy to tour the country speaking about environmental issues. There slowly ensued widespread grassroots support that ignited in 1969 & 1970 culminating with the birth of Earth Day that began as a teach-in about environmental issues on April 22, 1970.
A month earlier peace activist John McConnell had proposed that a day be set aside to honor the Earth on the vernal equinox (March 21st) 1970. The United Nations sanctioned that proposal.
The Earth Day flag created by John McConnell
It is widely believed that grass roots support for the first Earth Day gave impetus to subsequent landmark legislation including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act & the Endangered Species Act. It may surprise some that Gaylord Nelson was also a small business advocate. But his love of nature is how many will remember him. Although Earth Day, 2015, is April 22nd, various communities may celebrate it on slightly different days.
To learn more about activities on Earth Day in Kansas, Missouri and our Nation’s Capital, visit the following links:
Earth Day Network:
Earth Day Celebration at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, April 18th:
http://www.opkansas.org/events/earth-day-2/
Earth Day at the Missouri State Capitol, April 24th:
Earth Day Concert on the National Mall
http://wtop.com/entertainment/2015/04/stars-align-for-earth-day-concert-on-national-mall/slide/1/