Earth Day occurs every year on April 22nd.  On this day, millions of people around the globe pledge to do something better: plant a tree, turn off unused lights, walk to work, etc.  This day is a great celebration of what our Earth means to us, and ways that we can leave a better planet than we found it.  Where did this holiday come from though, and how can we incorporate this into our daily lives?

     According to www.earthday.org, the very first Earth Day occurred in 1970.  Senator Gaylord Nelson created the holiday after seeing the deterioration of the environment from long standing abuse: oil spills, use of inefficient gas guzzling automobiles, water pollution, and more.  The very first Earth Day saw 20 million Americans amass to raise awareness for our Earth and the issues affecting it.  The idea arose from student protests of the time, and the date was chosen for maximum participation because it was between spring break and final exams.  Since then, Earth Day celebrations have spread and 1990 it went global.  Earth day today is used to teach children how to take care of the Earth, to hold talks and discussion on key issues, and (unfortunately) to fight climate deniers.

     But why just one day?  If we worked out one day a year would that have any effect?  Nope.  What are some ways that we can take the spirit of this occasion and utilize it in our daily lives?  I have recently written a few blogs on waste, recycling, gardening, etc. that deserve a review in the spirit of Earth Day, and we can implement these into daily life.  Composting, recycling/upcycling, water conservation, carpooling or walking- these all are small things that we can do daily to have a large impact on our Earth and our lives.  The Earth has taken many hits over its lifetime and will always bounce back and be here.  However, humanity will not if we keep up the course we are traveling.  Don’t we owe it to future generations to leave them a better Earth than we inherited?

     The history of Earth Day comes from an uprising during one of the most culturally tumultuous periods in our country’s history.   As we are currently seeing history repeated, I feel it is an important time to remind ourselves that as we work on social and cultural issues just as we were 50 years ago when Earth Day was created, that it is equally important to integrate these morals into our daily lives now as well.  We must, as a whole, be better to each other, be better for our environment and our planet, and be better people for future generations to be able to look up to.  It is our charge to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren, and to be a better society on and for our Earth.