It's Earth Day! Saturday April 22nd.

EARTH DAY FAQ's

​When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is honored around the world on April 22nd every year.  This year it falls on a Saturday so there will be many local festivities, rallies and other events.

Why is Earth Day Important?
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.

 
How Did Earth Day Get Started?
In the aftermath of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara California in 1969, Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, announced a "national teach-in on the environment" and put together a team to support events across the country.  Senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work.

20 million Americans participated in that 1st Earth Day, at 2,000 colleges and universities, about 10,000 schools and 100's of communities. This day of activism lead to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.  

Earth Day Went Global in 1990.
200 Million people in 141 countries joined forces to call attention to environmental issues.  Today, over a billion people participate in over 192 countries, making it "the largest secular holiday in the world", according to Denis Hayes, who organized the 1st Earth Day.