Overview

Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, called for an environmental teach-in called Earth Day to be held on April 22, 1970. Over 20 million people participated that year, and Earth Day is now observed each year on April 22 by national governments in 175 countries and by more than 500 million people. Senator Nelson selected Denis Hayes, a Harvard University graduate student, as the national coordinator of activities. Hayes said he wanted Earth Day to "bypass the traditional political process."

Toxicological Perspective

The 1960-1970s was a period when environmental disasters such as the Santa Barbara oil spill began to shift political will towards enacting environment-oriented policies, including legislation creating the EPA.

External Links

• Nelson, Gaylord. Earth Day 2007: History of Earth Day. Retrieved on 4-22-07.
• Earth Day Network
  
• Earth Day on Wikipedia