The significance of Earth Day 2010

Earth Day 2010 was celebrated under the sign of global warming concerns and climate change, but the holiday has its origins 40 years ago, on April 22, 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson introduced it.

Even on the first Earth Day, the focus was a growing ecological crisis and a growing deterioration of the environment. Now, more than ever, these issues are as current as they could ever be.

Senator Nelson’s idea was to try and send across to Washington the message that people wanted the authorities to focus more on environment-related measures.

Nelson also insisted for individuals to start Earth Day activities, not the authorities. This resulted in 1 in 10 Americans being a part of the celebration.

Gaylord Nelson was a very atypical politician in his day. He even ended up being called the “Conservation Governor”, as he started various very popular environmentalist measures in Wisconsin. These included cleaning waters, protecting resources, creating jobs that protected the environment and promoting the building of more parks and various other recreational facilities in the open air.

The fact that over 20 million Americans decided to take action on April 22nd, 1970 was testimony enough that they shared Gaylord Nelson’s concerns.

Nelson thought his point had been well taken and saw no reason for Earth Day to be repeated. Still, millions of people around the world still think, 40 years later, that awareness about preserving the environment is necessary. That is why they celebrate it every year, in any way they can. See also Earth Day 2010 videos for kids, Earth Day Slogans, Earth Day SMS, Earth Day Messages.