This April 22nd will mark the 40th Earth Day celebration. Browse the web and you'll find many pages commemorating the anniversary, such as this one which tells the story of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who proposed the original idea. From the beginning, however, Earth Day was a widespread grassroots movement. Today, events are held all over the world to celebrate the Earth and it's ecosystems and to promote action on environmental issues from "old school" issues such as water and air pollution to 21st century efforts to reduce (or eliminate) our "carbon footprint."
Michigan's largest Earth Day event will take place April 23-25 in Rochester, Michigan. According to event organizers, "The MI Earth Day Fest will welcome to downtown Rochester an anticipated audience of 100,000 people from around Michigan, eager to learn about green and healthy living, and seeking earth-friendly alternatives in food, energy, transportation, clothing, wellness, career, home, garden, finances and more."
Closer to home, Chippewa Nature Center will be holding an Earth Day Hike from 5:30-7:00pm with Naturalist Karen Breternitz. This free program will get you outdoors into the woods to take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Along the way, Karen will talk about the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready for their busy season.
However you choose to celebrate Earth Day this year, we hope you spend some time to reflect on our connection to all living things on the planet we call home. Though it seems big sometimes, we're reminded every day how each insect, plant, animal, air and water molecule are all interconnected. We can all do something to care for the Earth. What will you do this year?
The idea for Earth Day in the United States originated with Gaylord Nelson, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, in 1969. Senator Nelson envisioned a day which would become an "environmental teach-in" to promote human health and to safeguard the natural environment.
About 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. This was an era before many of the environmental controls we enjoy today were in place. Rivers caught fire, Lake Erie was "dead" and DDT was poisoning wildlife. Also in 1970, President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act was strengthened. In 1972, the EPA banned DDT, the Clean Water Act was passed and the U.S. and Canada pledged together to clean up the Great Lakes.
While we've come a long way since then, old and new threats to our environment are still evident everywhere. On the first Earth Day, no one had ever heard the phrase "Global Warming" and Emerald Ash Borers, Zebra Mussels and many other invasive species still hadn't invaded our ecosystems.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems facing our world. At the same time, it's very important to remember that we live on an amazing planet, filled with grace and beauty! In that spirit, take time out this Earth Day to enjoy the natural wonders around you. Sit in your yard, go for a walk around the block or come to Chippewa Nature Center!
This year, you can enjoy a special Earth Day Hike in the woods to take in the sights, sounds and smells of spring. Naturalist Karen Breternitz will lead this 1½ hour hike and talk about the trees, wildflowers and fungi that are getting ready for their busy season. For information about this and other Nature Center programs, just check out our website.
Happy Earth Day!
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