Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

History: In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in recognition of his work. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.

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The movement continues...

We are now entering the 49th year of a movement that continues to inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to action.
In 1970, the year of our first Earth Day, the movement gave voice to an emerging consciousness, channeling human energy toward environmental issues. Forty-six years later, we continue to lead with groundbreaking ideas and by the power of our example.

And so it begins. Today. Right here and right now. Earth Day is more than just a single day —  It’s bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand.

This Earth Day and beyond, let’s make big stuff happen. Let’s plant 7.8 billion trees for the Earth. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s take the momentum from the Paris Climate Summit and build on it.

Join the Movement!  

Let’s start now....

• The Climate Petition ~ Join the largest climate petition to save the world. Tell local, national and international leaders to phase out carbon.
  
• Start Composting ~ More than a billion pounds of food are thrown away every year. Help make a difference by turning your food waste into soil.
• Eat Less Meat ~ Limit your Meat Consumption: Go Meatless on Mondays!
• Stop Using Disposable Plastic ~ Help end our obsession with plastic and protect the environment. Take the pledge to stop using disposable plastic.
• Reduce Your Footprint ~ Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz and learn how you can reduce your impact on the planet.
• Buy local produce ~ Eat healthier and help reduce your carbon footprint by buying local produce. Take the pledge and we'll show you how to find local produce near you.
• End Junk Mail ~ Junk mail is not only a major inconvenience, it also has an extremely negative impact on the environment. Help reduce the amount of junk mail you receive.
• Pledge to recycle your e-waste ~ Every year, thousands of old electronic devices are thrown into landfills, polluting the environment, when they can be recycled.

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Earth Day Ideas! 

• Make your own water saving rain barrel.
  
• Plant wildflowers! See our article, Wild About Wildflowers.
• Natural Landscaping! Plants thrive when they're natural to your area.
  
• Bring nature into the garden with plants that attract butterflies.
• Try an organic vegetable garden. Here are tips on organic seed-starting.
• Conserve water. See our tips on a water-wise garden.

• Turn your outdoor space into a humane-backyard.