Usually each year on Earth Day, I like to share the history of this annual event along with a link to find a local clean-up. Like almost every event on Earth, COVID-19 has caused most cleanup events to be postponed until later in the year. Some may move forward if they meet current safety criteria, and comply with local and federal health advisories. Practice social distancing and sanitary awareness at any cleanups deemed safe by authorities.
Earth Day Network, the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, is going digital with messages, performances, and calls-to-action from celebrities and activists. Check out www.earthday.org/earth-day-live/
And now, onto the history of Earth Day from www.earthday.org:
“The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized millions of Americans for the protection of the planet. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
Earth Day led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and in 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris Climate Agreement into force.”
Unfortunately, 50 years after the first Earth Day our country appears to be regressing, with environmental protections being eased and erased in favor of corporate profits. Despite the actions of our government, Earth Day continues today and the principles it was founded on seem to be finding more of a following than ever among us citizens. People of all walks of life are making changes in their daily lives to save the planet.
Columbia County Current 