Earth Day - 2012

When is Earth Day? Every day is Earth Day! But, it’s officially celebrated on April 22nd. It is hard to believe, but prior to 1970 it was perfectly legal for a factory to spew clouds of black smoke into the air or dump toxic waste into a nearby stream. A polluter could not be taken to court because there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms in place to protect the environment. Recognizing the need to force this issue onto the national agenda and inspired by the student anti-war movement and the effects of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, Senator Gaylord Nelson established Earth Day with the intent to create a mass environmental movement. The idea for the day began as a "national teach-in on the environment" and was held on April 22, 1970, to maximize the number of student participants. The intent was to raise public awareness of air and water pollution and bring environmental causes into the national spotlight. As a result, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive nationwide rallies. Senator Gaylord’s efforts to force environmental issues into the national agenda worked. In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since Earth Day started, environmentalism has moved from a fringe issue to a mainstream concern. The focus of Earth Day now is to “think globally, act locally” as environmental stewards have never been more timely or important. Every person shares the responsibility to ensure that finite natural resources are protected for today and for future generations. So, what can you do for Earth Day? Earth Day is about uniting voices in support of a healthy planet. Make a public commitment to take environmental action and attend an Earth day event, organize your own Earth Day event, organize a day of service, or pledge an act of green on April 22, 2012. Earth Day Jacksonville, a pre-Earth Day event that features more than 80 booths of educational and interactive displays and live entertainment throughout the day, begins at 10:00 a.m. on April 21, 2012, and takes place at the Jacksonville Landing. In coordination with Earth Day Jacksonville, Earth day Inc. will award grants of up to $500 to groups who implement environmental education programs. Visit http://earthdayjax.com/ for more information on both the annual Earth Day event and the Earth Day Mini Grants. -Elizabeth Barron, Legal Intern