Earth Day was created by the U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who helped profound the holiday known because of witnessing the damage from the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969. In 2009, the United Nations specifically renamed the holiday “International Mother Earth Day”. Earth Day is annually celebrated on April 22nd to promote environmental improvement. The first Earth Day helped to create environmental laws; for example, the Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act. It first became a holiday in the 1970s, becoming a movement that is globally celebrated to decrease the dangers of climate change through recycling, reducing plastic, and planting trees. Mainly, Earth Day is the largest observance in the world, the celebrations usually have “Earth Week” events. 20 million people (10%) of the United States out to protest environmental degradation!
Earth Day helps to raise concerns with issues against wildlife. Earth Day emphasizes wildlife protection like encouraging reduced plastic waste to prevent wildlife injuries, protecting species that are endangered, and helping plant-based diets to dial down habitat ruins. Participating in Earth Day benefits animals by preserving their homes, reducing toxic injections, and helping better food sources.
Ways to act in Earth Day:
- Plant Trees
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
- Visit a park or observe wildlife
Simpler acts include:
- Using reusable containers
- Switching to LED lightbulbs (helps reduce energy consumption)
- Walking/biking instead of driving
- Supporting farmers by buying produce
