Grown from the grassroots
Annual celebration of planet was inspired by 1969 oil spill in California
Monday was Earth Day.
An annual celebration of the planet and call to action to save it, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22 every year since 1970.
Here are five interesting things about the day now celebrated around the world.
Who came up with Earth Day?
Earth Day is largely credited to Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin.
An environmentalist, Nelson became increasingly alarmed about humanity’s impact on the planet in January 1969 following the Santa Barbara oil spill. The spill — which would eventually lead to 100,000 barrels of oil being released, the largest spill in U.S. waters at that time — covered the beaches of Santa Barbara, Calif., and killed an estimated 3,500 sea birds, according to Forbes.
Nelson toured the beaches months later, according to the U.S. Senate Historical Office. Inspired by anti-Vietnam War teach-ins taking place on college campuses, Nelson set out to organize a similar grassroots movement for Earth Day.
Why is Earth Day held on April 22?
Nelson and Denis Hayes, a law student who served as national co-ordinator of the first Earth Day, chose April 22. That week lined up well with college schedules, had the potential for good weather and — as a Wednesday that year — meant more students would be on campus than any other day of the week, according to the Senate Historical Office.
The first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million Americans — nearly 10 per cent of the country’s population — across 2,000 college campuses and 10,000 primary and secondary schools.
How is Earth Day celebrated in Toronto?
Cleanups have been organized across the city. On Sunday, registered charity Don’t Mess with the Don said over 400 people attended its events and removed nearly 10,000 pounds of trash and invasive plants.
Various events are planned for later this week.
What’s the focus of Earth Day this year?
EarthDay.org’s theme for this year was “Planet vs. Plastics.”
According to the organization, more plastic has been produced in the last decade than in the entirety of the 20th century. It is calling for a 60 per cent reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.
“Plastics extend beyond an imminent environmental issue; they present a grave threat to human health as alarming as climate change,” EarthDay.org said.
Microplastics, which have been found in our air and water, have been discovered deep inside the lungs of living people and researchers now believe there is a possibility they can travel across the intestinal barrier to reach vital organs like the brain.
What is Canada doing about plastics?
A new Toronto bylaw is making businesses ask customers if they’d like single-use items before providing them.
The federal government has already banned companies from importing or selling many single-use plastic items in Canada — including checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks and straws.
While a federal court struck down the assumption underlying the ban last year, it remains in effect while the government appeals the ruling.