2010 marks the 40th celebration of Earth Day, a
holiday that helped spark America’s modern environmental movement when
it was founded on April 22, 1970, by then-Senator Gaylord Nelson of
Wisconsin.
holiday that helped spark America’s modern environmental movement when
it was founded on April 22, 1970, by then-Senator Gaylord Nelson of
Wisconsin.
Did you know that there are actually two Earth Days? The “first” Earth Day was founded on March 21, 1970, by John McConnell, a newspaper publisher. Even though this is the date that was embraced by the United Nations, Americans celebrate Earth Day on April 22 each year.
It’s also interesting to note that the color green, which symbolizes the environmental movement, isn’t all that “green,” as in “eco-friendly.” Synthetic green dyes, paints, and pigments are made with a noxious
cocktail of toxins and pollutants, making green an ironic symbol for the
environmental movement.
cocktail of toxins and pollutants, making green an ironic symbol for the
environmental movement.
In honor of this year’s historic anniversary, Mother Nature Network is taking a
quick look back at the last four decades of planetary appreciation.
quick look back at the last four decades of planetary appreciation.
The video below is a fun way to get the whole 40-year history in under 5 minutes. Or read the transcript below to see what happened each year.
1970: 20 million people celebrate the first
Earth Day on April 22. A few months later, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) opens its doors for the first time.
Earth Day on April 22. A few months later, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) opens its doors for the first time.
1971: Amtrak is founded, even though gas costs
just 33 cents a gallon.
just 33 cents a gallon.
1972: The EPA bans DDT, which was thinning bald
eagles’ eggshells.
eagles’ eggshells.
1973: A Mideast oil embargo sparks a U.S. gas
crisis.
crisis.
1974: Congress passes the Safe Drinking Water Act,
shamelessly pandering to the water-drinkers lobby.
shamelessly pandering to the water-drinkers lobby.
1975: Congress sets emissions and efficiency rules
for cars, leading to the introduction of catalytic converters.
for cars, leading to the introduction of catalytic converters.
1976: The EPA starts phasing out PCBs, which can
cause cancer and other health problems.
cause cancer and other health problems.
1977: The U.S. adds the first plants to its
endangered species list — despite their disturbing lack of cuteness.
endangered species list — despite their disturbing lack of cuteness.
1978: Congress bans CFCs in aerosol sprays after
scientists realize CFCs can deplete the Earth’s ozone layer.
scientists realize CFCs can deplete the Earth’s ozone layer.
1979: A partial meltdown at Pennsylvania’s
Three Mile Island nuclear plant ruins an otherwise good day.
Three Mile Island nuclear plant ruins an otherwise good day.
1980: Congress creates the Superfund program to
clean up toxic waste sites. Those expecting “super fun” sites are
quickly disappointed.
clean up toxic waste sites. Those expecting “super fun” sites are
quickly disappointed.
1981: Acid rain intensifies over the Northeastern
United States and Canada.
United States and Canada.
1982: Dioxin contamination forces the U.S.
government to buy homes in Times Beach, Missouri — not the
last time it would have to buy up toxic assets.
government to buy homes in Times Beach, Missouri — not the
last time it would have to buy up toxic assets.
1983: A long failure to clean up the Chesapeake
Bay begins.
Bay begins.
1984: 8.6 million acres of protected wilderness
are established in 21 states. Somewhere in the distance, a coyote howls.
are established in 21 states. Somewhere in the distance, a coyote howls.
1985: Scientists discover a giant hole in Earth’s
ozone layer. During the next year’s NBA All-Star Game, Spud Webb dunks
through it.
ozone layer. During the next year’s NBA All-Star Game, Spud Webb dunks
through it.
1986: Congress declares the public has a right to
know when toxic chemicals are released into the air, land, or water. The
public breathes a sigh of relief — and a little sulfur dioxide.
know when toxic chemicals are released into the air, land, or water. The
public breathes a sigh of relief — and a little sulfur dioxide.
1987: Medical waste washes ashore in New York and New Jersey,
forcing beaches to close. Efforts to rebrand the area don’t work out.
forcing beaches to close. Efforts to rebrand the area don’t work out.
1988: Congress bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge
and industrial waste, ending a cherished American tradition.
and industrial waste, ending a cherished American tradition.
1989: The Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons
of crude oil into Alaska’s
Prince William Sound, one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S.
history.
of crude oil into Alaska’s
Prince William Sound, one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S.
history.
1990: The EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory tells the
public which pollutants are being released into their communities.
public which pollutants are being released into their communities.
1991: The U.S. government begins using products
made from recycled content.
made from recycled content.
1992: The U.S. Energy Department and the EPA
launch the Energy Star program to label energy-efficient products.
launch the Energy Star program to label energy-efficient products.
1993: A cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee
sickens 400,000 people and kills more than 100, raising awareness of
microbes in water supplies.
sickens 400,000 people and kills more than 100, raising awareness of
microbes in water supplies.
1994: The first genetically modified tomatoes hit
the U.S. market.
the U.S. market.
1995: Wolves are reintroduced into Yellowstone and
central Idaho. The
initial awkwardness quickly fades.
central Idaho. The
initial awkwardness quickly fades.
1996: Public drinking-water suppliers are required
to inform customers about chemicals and microbes in their water.
to inform customers about chemicals and microbes in their water.
1997: The U.S. joins other countries in Kyoto,
Japan, to negotiate a global climate-change treaty it winds up
rejecting.
Japan, to negotiate a global climate-change treaty it winds up
rejecting.
1998: Earth has its warmest year since record-keeping began in 1880.
1999: The EPA announces new rules to improve air
quality in national parks and wilderness areas. Somewhere in the
distance, a coyote coughs.
quality in national parks and wilderness areas. Somewhere in the
distance, a coyote coughs.
2000: High temperatures and low rainfall spark the
worst U.S. wildfire season in 50 years.
worst U.S. wildfire season in 50 years.
2001: The U.S. formally rejects the Kyoto treaty.
The treaty suffers brief self-esteem issues before hooking up with
Europe on the rebound.
The treaty suffers brief self-esteem issues before hooking up with
Europe on the rebound.
2002: The U.S. suffers its second-worst wildfire
season in 50 years.
season in 50 years.
2003: The EPA retrofits 40,000 school buses
nationwide to cut back their tailpipe emissions.
nationwide to cut back their tailpipe emissions.
2004: The EPA requires cleaner fuels and engines
for farm and construction equipment.
for farm and construction equipment.
2005: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season produces a
record number of tropical cyclones, including Hurricane Katrina, which
devastates the Gulf Coast.
record number of tropical cyclones, including Hurricane Katrina, which
devastates the Gulf Coast.
2006: An Inconvenient Truth is released,
winning Al Gore an Oscar, a Nobel Prize, and a lifetime of being
criticized every time it snows.
winning Al Gore an Oscar, a Nobel Prize, and a lifetime of being
criticized every time it snows.
2007: The bald eagle is removed from the
endangered species list.
endangered species list.
2008: The EPA releases a list of “eco-fugitives.”
Captain Planet comes out of retirement.
Captain Planet comes out of retirement.
2009: The EPA issues a proposed finding that
greenhouse gases may endanger public health or welfare. Congress issues a
proposed finding that the EPA is a jerk.
greenhouse gases may endanger public health or welfare. Congress issues a
proposed finding that the EPA is a jerk.
2010: People around the world celebrate the 40th
Earth Day, once again dedicating a full day to the planet’s health. The
Earth is touched, even though it creates days in the first place by
rotating, which means “Earth Day” is a regift. But it’s the thought that
counts.
Earth Day, once again dedicating a full day to the planet’s health. The
Earth is touched, even though it creates days in the first place by
rotating, which means “Earth Day” is a regift. But it’s the thought that
counts.
Russell McLendon is an associate editor at the Mother Nature Network, where a
version of this post originally appeared.
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- 8 moments that shaped the environmental movement
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