Earth Day was established on April 22, 1970 and ever since then, it’s been celebrated on that same date. The following are some interesting facts about this special day, which aims to promote appreciation for earth’s environment with the intent to raise awareness for taking care of the world we live in.
- The founder of Earth Day was Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who started the annual event with hopes of encouraging public awareness about pollution.
- A wave of protests against the industrial revolution in the United States took place on the first Earth Day.
- After originating in the United States in 1970, it wasn’t until two decades later that Earth Day became recognized around the globe.
- In the year 2000, 5,000 environmental groups joined together from 184 countries to form a campaign against global warming and to promote the need for clean energy.
- In 2009, the United Nations renamed Earth Day as “International Mother Earth Day.”
- After launching a campaign on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010, one billion trees were planted by 2012.
- Activists around the world create new initiatives and projects on a yearly basis in order to restore the planet and protect it.
- Some educational establishments and regions in the world actually expand the time period of spreading awareness by celebrating Earth Day for a week.