Earth Day 2022: How the past set us for the future

Hi Friend! Earth Day is nearly here! Today I want to talk about the history of Earth Day and ways that we can participate.

Earth Day is every year on April 22. It first started in 1970. Earth Day came about really at the peak of American industrialization and with many modern changes that were making American life very convenient. Earth Day was very much inspired by Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, where she talked about how pollution affects human health. For example, Rachel Carson was warned that DDT, a pesticide, was harmful to nature and humans. It indeed was affecting farmers and local communities the most. Similar pollution events were happening including oil spills in Santa Barbar, California which motivated senator Gaylord Nelson to join with anti-war protests to include public awareness about water and air pollution. They took advantage of student support with the event making April 22nd the perfect day where students were between spring break and final exams. A total of 20 million Americans showed up to take a stand. Incredible!

I read Rachel Carson’s book when I was in college when I had to do a project on the environment. It was revolutionary for me because I really had no idea of the history of how this event came to be. Her book really inspired me to action so if you haven’t read the book I recommend it! It is also so amazing that they sought the support of students because ultimately the young generations will fight for their brighter future. Because I was a student when I first began on my journey of conscious decision-making toward the environment, this story feels personal. Honestly, I love Earth Day there are so many fun activities to do that day. So next I want to share events and things that you can do to celebrate.

The first thing I recommend is to search if your local town has an Earth Day festival, mine recently started one. If there isn’t one near you make sure to visit https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/ for a virtual event online. There are also fun activities that you can do on your own or with friends and family. A great thing is to plant trees or a garden with friends and family. You could throw an Earth Day party where you have veggie dishes, use actual silverware, cups and plates, and you could give away seeds to plants. If you can join a rally or an Earth Day march. You could even just have a conversation with a family member or friend about why Earth Day matters to you. Whether you do something big or small make sure to do it with others.

I hope you have a wonderful Earth Day! If you enjoyed this blog make sure to share it with a friend! Also, don’t forget to follow The Ocean’s Narrative on Instagram.