Earth Day

Earth Day is the brain child of Senator Gaylord Nelson, developed in 1970 as a national teach-in on the environment. It was inspired by the protests of the 60s and fuelled by increasing awareness of effects of pollution on the environment.

He envisioned it as a large-scale, grassroots environmental demonstration “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda" and to this day, the largest civil event in human history.

Now almost 50 years later, it's interesting to look at how Earth Day has evolved. My experience is that it feels more like a celebration of Earth. It deserves it, too. It's beautiful, inspiring, and nurturing. Yet climate change is still an ever growing threat.

Earth Day is the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, developed in 1970 as a national teach-in on the environment. It was inspired by the protests of the 60s and fuelled by increasing awareness of effects of pollution on the environment.

He envisioned it as a large-scale, grassroots environmental demonstration “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda" and to this day, the largest civil event in human history.

Now almost 50 years later, it's interesting to look at how Earth Day has evolved. My experience is that it feels more like a celebration of Earth. It deserves it, too. It's beautiful, inspiring, and nurturing. Yet climate change is still an ever growing threat.

I propose we also go back to the roots of Earth Day, and embrace the activism it was inspired by. It's time for change.

Dr. Cristina Allen ND