Our Big Blue Planet

Written by Reagan Bruan

Earth Day occurs on a Friday this year, but will always fall on April 22nd. The first Earth Day occurred in 1970 but was influenced by the issues that were happening years before.

Decades before the thought of Earth Day was introduced, vast amounts of leaded gas were being pumped into the air by inefficient cars or automobiles. Air pollution was at an all-time high and was deemed the new normal. Americans had little to no concerns over the environmental impact their actions were creating.

However, in 1962, Rachel Carson released a book, Silent Spring. The main idea of Silent Spring was about the dangers DDT had on our environment and human beings ourselves. DDT is known as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and was marketed as the first modern insecticide in the 40s. Carson’s book brought concern to thousands of Americans.

Although Carson faced extreme backlash over her book and her own credentials, her hard work paid off. John F. Kennedy ordered the President’s Science Advisory Committee to look into the issues that Silent Spring rose. DDT then came under closer supervision and the government eventually banned it.

The idea of Earth Day was introduced in 1970 by junior Senator Gaylord Nelson, who had major concerns about the state of our environment. To bring attention to the public, Nelson gathered Republican congressman Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes to help organize campus teach-ins on April 22nd, which determined Earth Day as the 22nd.

Through all of Nelson’s work, the first Earth Day launched the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the creation of other environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Clean Air Act, and many more.

Today, Earth Day is a well-known event and is having its 52nd anniversary. The theme for this year is “Invest in Our Planet,” which is to help focus on the effects of climate change on our planet.

Earth Day is extremely important and there are those who believe so. Ohio State freshman Sam Pennington wrote, “This is our one and only planet we live on. We need to take more care and focus on it.”

Darby senior Phillisity Neal said, “I would love for us to focus on it more. I know some people commemorate by turning their lights off for eight hours, but I feel like there should be more awareness on the whole topic.”

Davidson sophomore JP Rheinfrank went a different direction from the others and commented on how corporations use this day for their own profit, “I feel like it’s a good example of greenwashing, like how companies use it for marketing.”

To help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released and raise awareness for it, cities across America are having a car-free Earth Day, with New York City having its largest ever.

Also right here at home, there are also events taking place. In Columbus, there are cleanups of parks and other places of need happening till the 23rd. There are also tree plantings occurring from the 9th to the 23rd as well. Finally, there will be an Earth Day celebration at Genoa Park on April 23rd from 12-7 with food, local music, and more.

photo credits: earth.com