We all know that Earth Day is a day of betterment for the planet, but why exactly do we celebrate it, and where did it ever come from? The answers to those questions are a bit surprising, especially when you find out that the Vietnam War helped inspire it.
U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was inspired to act after witnessing the devastation caused by the massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Nelson saw the spirit and passion of anti-war protesters at the time and knew that if he could inspire others to feel the same passion about the environment as they did for the war, the world could be a much better place.
After teaming up with Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey and assembling a staff of nearly 100 people to promote the event, they managed to kick off the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, with 20 million Americans taking part to better their environment. This led directly to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. In 1990, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries.
Today, millions upon millions of people the world over are working to improve their communities for all living things, whether that means one person planting a tree or a billion trees being planted.
Cartus recognizes that, although Earth Day is a wonderful way to get people involved, it is by no means the only day we should use to improve the world around us. The Cartus Conservation Committee works hard all year on a variety of projects, including our award-winning ride-sharing program, recycling and waste reduction programs, Adopt-A-Street programs, and more.
The annual Earth Day celebration is one of our largest events. This year, we welcomed more than 20 vendors to display their educational environmental initiatives, with some selling eco-friendly items and hosting giveaways. It’s always an immensely popular event that serves as an important reminder that we may not be able to fix the world, but we can at least try to leave it a bit better off than when we found it. For more information on Earth Day and year-round initiatives you can take or get involved in, visit the official website. To find out more about Cartus’ environmental and other social responsibility initiatives, visit our Global Citizenship Resource Page.
Written by Mark Langdon
As service delivery manager, Mark has been on site in the Danbury office for 19 years managing our facilities services, and promoting our award-winning ride share program, annual Earth Day event, and Adopt-A-Street projects.
