A powerful social, political, and economic movement that was focused on the environmental destruction caused by industrialization and human activities triggered the development of Earth Day in 1970. This was in addition to the civil rights movement, which raised consciousness of environmental concerns and pushed for government involvement. This was further strengthened by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, which highlighted the risks of pesticides, and the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act, which paved the way for the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
One of the key figures involved in the creation of Earth Day was Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. He was a Democrat who had long been a vocal advocate for environmental reform. He had proposed a “conservation tour” of the United States to raise awareness of environmental issues, and this eventually led to the creation of Earth Day (deRubertis, 2019). He believed that environmental protection was an issue that should transcend politics, and he worked hard to gain bipartisan support for the event.
Senator Nelson was motivated to create Earth Day because he believed that protecting the environment was a moral imperative. He believed that if people could see the devastating effects that human activities have on the environment, they would be motivated to take action (deRubertis, 2019). He also believed that the environment was a unifying issue and that if the public were educated on the importance of protecting the environment, they would come together to support reform.
The period of time during which Earth Day was created was one of great environmental awareness and concern. This was largely due to the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act, and the heightened awareness of the impacts of industrialization and human activity on the environment. This combination of factors created an atmosphere that was conducive to the formation of a national event that aimed to protect our environment. People were becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of industrialization and human activities, and were ready to take action.
Reference
deRubertis, B. (2019). Let’s celebrate Earth Day. Triangle Interactive, Inc.