Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. It is celebrated on April 22 in the United States and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox occurs throughout the rest of the world.
The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and was initiated by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was inspired to create a national day to focus on the environment after witnessing the severe damage caused by a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969. The event was a huge success, with 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — taking to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development.
Today, Earth Day brings together citizens and activists from around the world to raise awareness and take action regarding such environmental concerns as global warming and renewable energy. It is now a global celebration that’s sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living and confronting the climate crisis.
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