EARTH DAY 2016 – CELEBRATION OF MOTHER EARTH
The First Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. It has now become a global tradition to celebrate Planet Earth as man’s only home in this vast universe of unknown dimensions. In Indian tradition, I pay my tribute to Mother Earth, Goddess Earth often admiringly described as “BHU DEVI” or “PRITHVI MATA.”
Rudranarasimham Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162 USA
PUMA PUNKU DIVINE SOCIETY
THE FIRST EARTH DAY
Author: History.com Staff Website Name: History.com URL: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-earth-day Publisher: A+E Networks
Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the United States for the first time. Millions of Americans, including students from thousands of colleges and universities, participated in rallies, marches, and educational programs.
Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a staunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grassroots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy,” Senator Nelson said, “and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda.” Earth Day indeed increased environmental awareness in America, and in July of that year the Environmental Protection Agency was established by special executive order to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation.
On April 22, 1990, the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.
Earth Day has been celebrated on different days by different groups internationally. The United Nations officially celebrates it on the vernal equinox, which usually occurs about March 21.
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