Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. The first Earth Day took place in 1970, founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. At the time, the public was becoming very concerned about the amount of air pollution, oil spills, environmental degradation, and widespread ecological damage happening across the country. Nelson’s idea inspired the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Earth Day then became global by 1990 and was celebrated by 140+ countries, showing how quickly the movement grew. Nelson wanted to create a day of awareness that would make people be more mindful of the Earth. Charlotte Nimbona is a freshman at JHS, and this is what she stated about Earth Day! “Every Earth Day, when I walk home, I try to pick up at least 5 pieces of trash off the road.”
Today, Earth Day encourages people around the world to take part in activities that involve supporting and protecting the environment. There are many ways to contribute to Earth Day, like small everyday habits to larger community efforts such as utilizing reusable bags and reducing energy consumption, planting trees and plants, and volunteering for cleanups. Something that can help a lot is reducing the amount of plastic that’s being used. Reducing plastic use is especially important because of the damage it causes to wildlife and ecosystems. Another way to contribute is by lowering the amount of water being used in your household. Bigger ways to help out on that day are planting trees, growing plants, or even volunteering for a Falls Park clean up on Saturday April 25 from 10 AM to noon. If you’re worried about needing to bring your own cleaning supplies, don’t fret! There will be supplies there for you to work with!
Earth Day has been around for many years and there are lots of ways you can contribute. It is a day to raise awareness on pollution, climate change, and sustainability!
