April 22 is Earth Day, a yearly event created to show support for the environmental protection of planet Earth. It was first celebrated in 1970 as a nationwide event in the U.S.A. and soon grew to be recognized internationally.

After witnessing the oil slick from the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed a similar day to raise environmental awareness of Earth, working with legendary ad man Julien Koenig to turn the former's original "teach-in" idea to a full-blown Earth Day. The resulting campaign was a resounding success, with many non-environmental industries and organizations participating. The first Earth Day in 1970 still holds the record for the largest single-day protest in human history. Earth Day continues to be celebrated every year and includes more than a billion people in over 193 countries.

Another Earth Day falls on March 21, the Northern Hemisphere's spring equinox, also beginning in 1970. Peace activist John McConnell first proposed a day to honor Earth and the concept of peace at a UNESCO conference in 1969, to be held the following year.

More Information

Earth Day (Wikipedia)

See also

• April (month)