EARTH DAY and the Environmental Movement

1962 Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring. The best seller sounded an alarm about the potential dangers and consequences of widespread pesticide use, and helped raise the environmental consciousness of the American public.

1963 Senator Nelson accompanies President John F. Kennedy on a speaking tour around the U.S. to raise awareness about environmental issues; however, protecting the environment remains a low priority for most politicians and citizens.John F. Kennedy

: Chemical waste released into Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River causes it to catch fire. The event becomes symbolic of how industrial pollution is damaging America’s natural resources.

1969 Inspired by the “teach-ins” held by Vietnam War protestors on U.S. college campuses, Senator Gaylord Nelson announces the idea for Earth Day, a large-scale, grassroots demonstration against the degradation of America’s natural resources.

Why do we need Earth Day? Because it works! Earth Day broadens the base of support for environmental programs, rekindles public commitment and builds community activism around the world through a broad range of events and activities. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a billion people participate in our campaigns every year.

Each year, Earth Day -- April marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Before Earth Day 1970… No federal agency to ensure that we were not poisoning ourselves, the EPA did not exist. No fresh water legislation to ensure safe drinking water had been passed prior to 1974 DDT was sprayed EVERYWHERE killing off our national symbol—the eagle No Clean Air legislation prior to 1975 No endangered species legislation prior to 1973

1970 Activist Dennis Hayes

1970 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established by President Richard Nixon in order to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment— air, water and land. Before the agency was founded, “the federal government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants that harm human health and degrade the environment,”

1971 Environmental activist organization Greenpeace founded. Today, the group, which has campaigned against nuclear power, whaling and global warming, among other issues, has offices in 40 countries around the world.

1972 Congress passes the Clean Water Act, which limits pollutants in rivers, lakes and streams.

1973 Congress passes the Endangered Species Act to protect animals and their ecosystems.

1980s President Ronald Reagan removed the solar panels from the White House that President Carter had installed. Reagan made disastrous appointments to the Department of Interior, the EPA and the Bureau of Land Management. About the only positive thing he did for the environment in his two terms was add millions of acres to the nation's protected wilderness and, by his hostility to environmentalism, raised awareness and invigorated a fresh eco-activism.

1980s No superfund monies to clean up environmental messes from industry until 1980 Dumping was allowed in our oceans until 1988

1986—Ozone Hole 1986 study of the South Pole determined the cause of a hole in the ozone layer and led to an international treaty banning the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Twenty years later, in an August 23, 2006, report, a scientist from the original expedition discusses the ozone’s slow recovery.

1990 The 20th anniversary Earth Day celebrations go global, with participants in over 140 countries. As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder

2000 Hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day, with a focus on “clean energy.”

2010 Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.

2015

Earth Song (4min)