Celebrating Earth Day
The first Earth Day celebration, which took place 45 years ago, marked a turning point in American environmental consciousness. The environment’s inextricable tie to public health became increasingly evident throughout the 1960’s, and several events throughout the decade— including the the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill, and the 1969 People’s Park protests at Berkeley—prompted U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and several activists and labor organizations to raise funds for a nationwide day of awareness¹. Since the first celebration in 1970, Earth Day has grown into a worldwide celebration and day of awareness. By its 30th anniversary, over 180 nations and 500 million people participated in Earth Day celebrations¹.
A number of Earth Day celebrations and events are taking place in the Chicago Area, including the reopening of the Garfield Park Conservatory.
Interested in learning more about Earth Day? The Library has a number of resources to help you get started. Be sure to also visit the Library’s Environmental Science and Weather and Climatology research guides for articles, databases, and other resources related to ecological and environmental studies.
¹O’Sullivan, R.(2008). Earth Day. In Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 22 Apr. 2015, from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195176322.001.0001/acref-9780195176322-e-478.
