Earth Day Anniversary

This will be the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, first celebrated on April 22nd, 1970. It was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, a dedicated environmentalist. Originally planned as a teach-in on college campuses, it grew to be a country-wide celebration of environmental awareness.

And in 1970, we did have a teach-in here at the University of Georgia, with public lectures by faculty and students. Some of us faculty scattered to other campuses. That year I went to Troy State College in Alabama and gave an out-door lecture to a mixed crowd. Pollution was the focus at that time, clean water, consequences of unrestrained population growth. (A member of Governor George Wallace’s staff listened to me, and promised to tell the Governor about it).

Senator Nelson picked a Wednesday on a date in mid-April, a time when he assumed classes would be in session and there would be no competing events. Immediately it was pointed out to him that April 22 was Lenin’s birthday. Was this a communist plot? No kidding, that question was raised. Environmental activism always has its enemies. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution opined, “Subversive elements plan to make American children live in an environment that is good for them." That’s an actual quote on Wikkipedia.

Has Earth Day outlived its usefulness? The emphasis has shifted to green energy, renewables, recycling. Recycling is now widely accepted. Lead has been removed from gasoline. Energy conservation has become a national policy. Surface waters are cleaner.

There is still a long way to go. Critical shortages are still on the horizon. Many industries face a painful restructuring.

One thing we didn’t anticipate (or, maybe I didn’t…). The massive flow of people across our southern border. What is the solution to that aspect of population growth?

Earth Day lives on. Personally, I feel that I’ve passed the torch. Passed it to good, strong, young hands.

Dac Crossley
4/17/2010

“The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Comments

[Wayne]

I fondly remember the first Earth Day---beautiful
weather in western N.C
I organized a program for the Franklin H.S. student body (800)that was held as the first event in the new Fine Arts Center on campus.
Our theme focused on water as a basic resource. Information from the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory and perspectives on the topic provided by 3 scientists from India visiting Coweeta were shared with the students.
It was fun and students rsponded with good questions.

[Jan Okey]

Remembering the first Earth Day. Univ. of Cal. worked in an information booth on campus. Made a long skirt to wear - white
birch trees - still have it - still fits. Still wear it. Gaylord Nelson - fantastic. I am a Wisconsin native and circulated nomination papers and worked for him in elections - also Wm. Proxmire..... Both men to be proud of.

[Mike D.]

Earth Week is still a pretty big deal at our campus. For the past three years I've been showing movies at the local library and having a discussion afterwards. We did An Inconvenient Truth a couple years ago, then The 11th Hour. This year, something a little lighter...No Impact Man.

[Lance Barron]

You're right, it's still an important day. The generations that follow will build on what's been done.

[carole]

Gaylord Nelson was ahead of his time with his thinking of the concept of environmental justice. He wanted all the people in the world to have clean water, clean land and clean air. The emphasis here is all people. Nelson died in 2005 so he did enjoy seeing his ideas make great strides in past generations and still carrying on today. Carole