Get our your red—or better yet— green pens and mark your calendars, because April 22, 2012 is the 42nd annual Earth Day! Earth Day was founded in 1970 when Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Senator, recognized the need for a change in the way humans were treating the environment and abusing its resources. It came about at a time when little if anything was being done to negate the effects of industrial wastes spewing into nearby streams, lakes and landscapes and wreaking havoc on mother earth.
On this first Earth Day an estimated 20 million people in the United States attended various rallies and festivities in cities and on college campuses around the country in support of this innovative day. Even the University of Illinois had participants! The immense outpouring of support was a success not only in solidifying Earth Day for the next forty one years, but it was also great player in the institution of many environmental laws, including the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Act, among others.
In keeping with tradition, the U of I will kick off its Earth Day celebration starting April 16th with various activities that will bring out the inner environmentalist in everyone. These activities will continue throughout the week up until the 22nd, and include activities such as environmental movies on the quad, a green career fair, and an RSO fair where you can learn about all of the environmental clubs and organizations on campus.
Whether you head to an event or not, be sure to go outside and some fresh air on the 22nd and give a great big thank you to Mother Earth!
Annie Logicz
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