“The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.” –former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson
In 1970, Gaylord Anton Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, organized the first Earth Day as a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. At the time, there was no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act, no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect the environment.
People across the country rallied on April 22, 1970, spurring the United States to create the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of that year, and that day, April 22, is now an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement, reminds us of the importance of protecting and caring for the earth, and calls us to action.
This Earth Day we reflected and shared with one another:
What are some of the environmental issues you care about the most? What environmental issues can you see playing out in your community? How can we protect and restore local ecosystems?
I am so honored to be in this work with you. Happy Earth Day!