| In the late 1960's air pollution clouded our cities | | | | conservation into the political dialogue of the |
| with toxic fumes spewed out by cars and | | | | Nation. That was the important objective and |
| factories. Air pollution in New York, Los Angeles | | | | achievement of Earth Day. It showed the political |
| and other major cities were linked to disease and | | | | and opinion leadership of the country that the |
| death, thus leaving city life barely breathable. | | | | people cared, that they were ready for political |
| Another concern was the large-scale use of | | | | action, that the politicians had better get ready, |
| pesticides, which were often used in highly | | | | too. In short, Earth Day launched the |
| populated areas. Additionally large amounts of | | | | Environmental decade with a bang. |
| dead fish were reported on the Great Lakes, and | | | | Perhaps the most impressive observance was in |
| the media carried the news that Lake Erie, one of | | | | New York City, whose mayor, John V. Lindsay, |
| America's largest bodies of fresh water, was in its | | | | had thrown the full weight of his influence behind |
| death throes. Ohio had another jolt when | | | | Earth Day. For two hours, Fifth Avenue was |
| Cleveland's Cuyahoga River, an artery inundated | | | | closed to traffic between 14th Street and 59th |
| with oil and toxic chemicals, burst into flames by | | | | Street, bringing midtown Manhattan to a virtual |
| spontaneous combustion. | | | | standstill. One innovative group of demonstrator's |
| In addition to the media coverage about the | | | | grabbed attention by dragging a net filled with |
| Great Lakes, the media coverage of the massive | | | | dead fish down the thoroughfare, shouting to |
| youth rallies of 1969 - as well as the ghetto riots | | | | passersby, "This could be you!" Later in the day, a |
| of 1965 to 1968 - helped to impress on the | | | | rally filled Union Square to overflowing as Mayor |
| American public that the United States had | | | | Lindsay, assisted by celebrities Paul Newman and |
| become an urban country with complex problems | | | | Ali McGraw, spoke from a raised platform looking |
| compounded by huge numbers of people. In the | | | | out over a seaof smiling faces. In New York, as |
| 1960's most talk was about conservation and | | | | elsewhere, self-policing demonstrators left |
| preservation of our parks and recreational areas. | | | | surprising little litter in their wake. |
| Talk of environment or sustainability did not come | | | | Earth Day 1970 made it clear that the public is |
| into effect until the early 1970's. | | | | committed to saving our environment. Although |
| One prominent politician, Gaylord Nelson, then | | | | the battle is far from over we have made |
| Senator from Wisconsin, had been frustrated | | | | substantial progress. In the ten years since 1970 |
| throughout the 1960s because only a few of his | | | | much of the basic legislation needed to protect |
| Congressional colleagues had any interest in | | | | the environment has been enacted into law: the |
| environmental issues. However, during his travels | | | | Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement |
| across the United States, Nelson had been greatly | | | | Act, the Water Pollution and Control Act |
| impressed by the dedication and the expertise of | | | | Amendments, the Resource Recovery Act, the |
| the many student and citizen volunteers who | | | | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the |
| were trying to solve pollution problems in their | | | | Toxic Substances Control Act, the Occupational |
| communities. | | | | Safety and Health Act, the Federal |
| Early in December 1969, Senator Nelson of | | | | Environmental Pesticide Control Act, the |
| Wisconsin and a 25-year old named Denis Hayes, | | | | Endangered Species Act, the Safe Drinking Water |
| former President of the Stanford student body, | | | | Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, |
| as national coordinator, became making plans for | | | | and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation |
| the inaugural Earth Day. | | | | Act. And, the most important piece of |
| On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was | | | | environmental legislation in our history, the National |
| celebrated. It was on that day that Americans | | | | Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into |
| made it clear that they understood and were | | | | law on January 1, 1970. |
| deeply concerned over the deterioration of our | | | | Here is your call to action, celebrate Earth Day |
| environment and the mindless dissipation of our | | | | 2008 on April 22nd. Plant a tree, reduce green |
| resources. That day left a permanent impact on | | | | house gasses, or make a commitment to start |
| the politics of America. It forcibly thrust the issue | | | | recycling, these are small steps and yet these |
| of environmental quality and resources | | | | steps can do so much for our environment. |