A Little History Of Earth Day

Today is the 41st anniversary of the first Earth Day event!

A common myth about Earth Day is that this season change (which happens in some form four times a year) is the reason April 22 was chosen as Earth Day.

Cathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network in Washington DC, says that April 22  was not chosen because of it's significance to the changing of the seasons, but because ... it was a Wednesday.

As the story goes, the first Earth Day was organized by a Wisconsin Senator named Gaylord Nelson.  He wanted to have what amounted to a walk-out from work and classes to protest our country's environmental policies (and the lack thereof).

To maximize their numbers, they wanted to pick a day that typically has the most percentage of workers present.  That day would be Wednesday.  

April 22, 1970 was a Wednesday and as  Rogers says, "It worked out perfectly, because everybody was at work, and they all left."

In fact, 20 million people were said to have participated in the first Earth Day event, though I have to believe some participated solely to skip work and class.

This public activist sort of mentality has admittedly subsided over the years.  But I firmly believe that environmental activism is not only alive and well, but thriving.

 The Internet has connected the world, and in doing so, the world has begun to share a common cause toward the environment.  It is now apparent to people that we all must share this planet and that our actions and inactions (and those of other countries) affect everyone. 

Consequently, I see a present-day world where more and more people consider themselves an "environmentalist."  And I see more and more people and companies becoming increasingly environmentally aware and active.  The difference I see is that we are now focusing our efforts where they will have the most effect, which is in our own backyard. 

Stories of people giving back to their communities and saving the planet with one good deed a day abound.  But unfortunately it is difficult to get a true gauge of how many altruistic acts of environment stewardship occur. 

There is good news, though. The Earth Day Network has a plan.  They have initiated a campaign to recognize and register "A Billion Acts of Green."   All we need to do is commit to doing a single act of green stewardship and then go onto their website and register our action.

Even if it is simply picking up a piece of litter, or NOT throwing out that cigarette butt from your car window when you stop at the traffic light, it all collectively matters, and has a positive affect on the planet we all must share.

 So this year, please join me in taking care of your own backyard here in Reston and do a green deed this Friday.