Hostess City History: Earth Day’s Birthday
Written by Bri LaMere. Graphic by Ananya Panchal.
Welcome to Hostess City History: a monthly column where I gather a corner of the city’s history to share. April is especially important for nature and wildlife. As a member of the Earth Club in high school, I considered Earth Day a holiday. There’s no need to sell tree saplings after reading below, but maybe you’ll be inspired to do small things for the environment on a daily basis.
Have you reduced, reused, or recycled lately? On April 22, 1970, a Wisconsin senator pioneered Earth Day, the day dedicated to countering pollution. Environmental concerns grew in the years that lead up to its federal recognition. The grassroots-inspired environmental appreciation day was celebrated by an estimated 20 million people in the first year. Georgia has endless nature to enjoy, so why not help keep it safe for years to come? One of the best parts of this is finding beauty in where you live and amplifying the ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle on a daily basis.
What prompted the day to be recognized in 1970, and how did it gain popularity?
There were skeptics about the importance of Earth Day in the Nixon-era United States (1969-1974). Even he said he believed that trees create more carbon dioxide than cars. Within a decade though, the holiday took off. Senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired by anti-war student protests of the time and sought to create a similar movement to bring awareness to air and water pollution. People were fed up with careless waste being released into the environment. An oil spill off the coast of California and the recent discovery of lead in car exhaust ignited care for the cause. There were five federal enactments in place by 1980 that showed a government hand in the effort to slow pollution.
By its decade old birthday, Earth Day was celebrated internationally. The idea of one day dedicated to the planet became even more popular in the years leading up to 1990, with 141 countries celebrating it. Ultimately, Earth Day didn’t get lost to time because of its global outreach. Countries in the European Nation continue to create and uphold federal laws that protect nature today. Much like the grassroots beginning of Earth Day’s popularity, dedication to the little things that protect the beauty of Savannah make a huge difference for the beauty of the city.
What does Earth Day mean here?
While close to the ocean, the popularity of Earth Day didn’t take off in mass until the 2000’s. It started in the small state of Wisconsin, but the recognition of the day spread to big cities from there. Although Savannah isn’t necessarily a major city, the wildlife research and preservation efforts here are vast. Despite these efforts, over 70 species are labeled as endangered in Georgia today.
Savannah has major events happening every weekend in spring. An Earth Day fair is thrown each year in Daffin Park where vendors and Earth-lovers alike gather. State parks have different educational and promotional opportunities around the end of April too.
While it’s nice to go out of your way to take care of the environment, it can be hard sometimes. It’s easiest to start locally. Donate clothes to Savannah’s missions to help people instead of through large corporations like Goodwill. Churches and the Old Savannah City Mission give back to our community directly. Just call to see what they’re looking for. Even picking up one piece of plastic means one less faux tumbleweed flying in front of your car. Plus, a door handle is just as germ-ridden as a plastic spoon or candy wrapper. So stock up on hand sanitizer, and start small to do big things for the Earth this spring.
