Earth Day - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 04-22-2004, 07:59 AM

Quote:

How the First Earth Day Came About
By Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day

What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked.

Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political "limelight" once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour. I flew to Washington to discuss the proposal with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who liked the idea. So did the President. The President began his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issue onto the national political agenda. However, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.

I continued to speak on environmental issues to a variety of audiences in some twenty-five states. All across the country, evidence of environmental degradation was appearing everywhere, and everyone noticed except the political establishment. The environmental issue simply was not to be found on the nation's political agenda. The people were concerned, but the politicians were not.

After President Kennedy's tour, I still hoped for some idea that would thrust the environment into the political mainstream. Six years would pass before the idea that became Earth Day occurred to me while on a conservation speaking tour out West in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me - why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?

I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try.

At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance. For the next four months, two members of my Senate staff, Linda Billings and John Heritage, managed Earth Day affairs out of my Senate office.

Five months before Earth Day, on Sunday, November 30, 1969, The New York Times carried a lengthy article by Gladwin Hill reporting on the astonishing proliferation of environmental events:

"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."

It was obvious that we were headed for a spectacular success on Earth Day. It was also obvious that grassroots activities had ballooned beyond the capacity of my U.S. Senate office staff to keep up with the telephone calls, paper work, inquiries, etc. In mid-January, three months before Earth Day, John Gardner, Founder of Common Cause, provided temporary space for a Washington, D.C. headquarters. I staffed the office with college students and selected Denis Hayes as coordinator of activities.

Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.

I'm not a tree hugger. It's earth day today. Be kind to the earth, it lets us live on it.

moonstrucksoul · 04-22-2004, 11:12 AM

thanks for the info, Cynth. everybody should take a moment out of their day to honor mother earth.

I personally, won't mow my lawn today.

laconic1 · 04-22-2004, 11:21 AM

I'm not a tree hugger either but I do think it is important to use resources efficiently and responsibly, and Earth Day has helped bring attention to this and inspire some people to take better care of natural resources.

KellyC · 04-22-2004, 12:11 PM

Sweet. I will also use today as a reason to not mow my lawn...

Cynthetiq · 04-22-2004, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KellyC
Sweet. I will also use today as a reason to not mow my lawn...

and then tomorrow?

NoLa · 04-22-2004, 12:58 PM

Every day should be Earth Day.

KellyC · 04-22-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
and then tomorrow?

Turns out this "earth day" excuse didn't work for my dad...I just finished mowing the lawn...DAMN!

minyn · 04-22-2004, 04:45 PM

lol!

Anyone ever read "Silent Spring"? just wondering becuase a book like that will send anyone into a tree hugging mode.

Build up and not out. skyscrapers are beautiful in my mind. i think that idea could save the world =)

philosopherking · 04-22-2004, 05:50 PM

I think this cartoon from my school paper sums it up pretty well...

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/...0f&image_num=1

Sparhawk · 04-22-2004, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by philosopherking
I think this cartoon from my school paper sums it up pretty well...

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/...0f&image_num=1

Sounds about par. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

moonstrucksoul · 04-22-2004, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by minyn
lol!

Anyone ever read "Silent Spring"? just wondering becuase a book like that will send anyone into a tree hugging mode.

i remember seeing documentaries about it, footage of them just showering people with DDT, "it's OK".

ARTelevision · 04-22-2004, 06:05 PM

As far as I'm concerned Earth Day has been politicized and has very little meaning. I don't need to be reminded of the planet I'm living on by those who use this day to promote their own agendas.

Wazer · 04-22-2004, 06:18 PM

April 22nd (Earth day) is the birthday of both my dog and my best friend (No.. they're not the same "person"), so to me.. it's kind of a reminder more than anything else.. *boggles*

----

Sledge · 04-22-2004, 11:53 PM

Why is it so important to people to mention that they aren't tree huggers?

And what exactly defines a tree-hugger?

MrFlux · 04-22-2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sledge
Why is it so important to people to mention that they aren't tree huggers?

And what exactly defines a tree-hugger?

Well, if you hug trees, you're probably a tree hugger.

I've never even heard of Earth Day before, and now that I have, I'll still just do my own thing.

Cynthetiq · 04-23-2004, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by philosopherking
I think this cartoon from my school paper sums it up pretty well...

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/...0f&image_num=1

nice...

greytone · 04-24-2004, 10:10 AM

I have to agree with Art. It is sad that the eviornmental movement has been hijacked by those with political agendas and so few people know who to believe about these issues.

maleficent · 04-22-2005, 03:46 AM

Happy Earth Day. 2005... Save the environment. Take the Day Off From Work. Sleep in, conserve energy... Wish I could.

tecoyah · 04-22-2005, 04:35 AM

Tecoyah goes in the Yard....and Hugs a tree

Supple Cow · 04-22-2005, 08:16 AM

I find Earth Day to do nothing but aggravate the problem of irresponsible attitudes toward the environment. This hippie stuff in the cartoon is right on about it not doing any good to change others' actions and I think the day, more often than not, just allows people with the wrong attitude to feel better about themselves because they recycled their Starbucks cup today. Tomorrow, it will be the same shit from those people. Of course I appreciate that there are some people with a healthier attitude, but I don't think having an official Earth Day really does much for them.

The sweeping attitudes are not going to change until people realize that both the degradation of the environment AND continued population growth need to be taken into account pretty much all the time. Since I don't think people in the U.S. are going to support the idea of a child-bearing limit like they have in China anytime soon, I think it's pretty inevitable that the attitude of "conservation" is going to have to change to "responsible use." Anybody who doesn't put on both an economist's hat and an environmental scientist's hat when talking about politics and the environment is not taking the right view.

Meditrina · 04-22-2005, 08:48 AM

The idea behind Earth Day started off nice. But I agree, it has lost it's meaning now. People do not need to be tree huggers to appreciate what we have and treat it with respect.

IanSturgill · 04-26-2005, 06:35 AM

On Earth day a bunch of queers from my school clogged up all the streets and bugged the shit out of evrybody

kurty[B] · 04-26-2005, 07:05 AM

I didn't even realize it was Earth Day... I guess I spent it well in the outdoors (camping at the Great Sand Dunes; hopefully I'll have pictures for everyone soon).

Instead I plan to help the Forestry division of my city plant trees next month, and do trail repair at various trails across the state throughout the summer. I figure these are two resources I use, and I may as well put some time and effort into maintaining what I can. Someone's got to do it.

04-22-2004, 11:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
moonstrucksoul hovering in the distance Location: the land of milk and honey	thanks for the info, Cynth. everybody should take a moment out of their day to honor mother earth. I personally, won't mow my lawn today. __________________ no signature required

04-22-2004, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
KellyC Comment or else!! Location: Home sweet home	Sweet. I will also use today as a reason to not mow my lawn... __________________ Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe? Me: Shit happens.

04-22-2004, 12:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
NoLa Crazy Location: St.Louis, MO	Every day should be Earth Day. __________________ Through the warmest cord of care your love was sent to me I'm not sure what to do with it or where to put it

04-22-2004, 04:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
minyn young and in bloom Location: under the bodhi tree.... bling	lol! Anyone ever read "Silent Spring"? just wondering becuase a book like that will send anyone into a tree hugging mode. Build up and not out. skyscrapers are beautiful in my mind. i think that idea could save the world =) __________________ "Woke up this morning with a blue moon in my eye" ~A3 "woke up this morning" "Don't compromise yourself, you're all you've got." -Janis Joplin

04-22-2004, 06:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	As far as I'm concerned Earth Day has been politicized and has very little meaning. I don't need to be reminded of the planet I'm living on by those who use this day to promote their own agendas. __________________ create evolution

04-22-2004, 11:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	I'm not a tree hugger either but I do think it is important to use resources efficiently and responsibly, and Earth Day has helped bring attention to this and inspire some people to take better care of natural resources.

04-22-2004, 05:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
philosopherking Crazy Location: Lincoln	I think this cartoon from my school paper sums it up pretty well... http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/...0f&image_num=1

04-22-2004, 06:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
Wazer Upright Location: Wherever.	April 22nd (Earth day) is the birthday of both my dog and my best friend (No.. they're not the same "person"), so to me.. it's kind of a reminder more than anything else.. boggles ---- __________________ "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo." - H. G. Wells

04-22-2004, 11:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sledge Pasture Bedtime	Why is it so important to people to mention that they aren't tree huggers? And what exactly defines a tree-hugger?

04-24-2004, 10:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	I have to agree with Art. It is sad that the eviornmental movement has been hijacked by those with political agendas and so few people know who to believe about these issues. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

04-22-2005, 03:46 AM	#18 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Happy Earth Day. 2005... Save the environment. Take the Day Off From Work. Sleep in, conserve energy... Wish I could. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

04-22-2005, 04:35 AM	#19 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Tecoyah goes in the Yard....and Hugs a tree __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

04-22-2005, 08:16 AM	#20 (permalink)
Supple Cow Americow, the Beautiful Location: Washington, D.C.	I find Earth Day to do nothing but aggravate the problem of irresponsible attitudes toward the environment. This hippie stuff in the cartoon is right on about it not doing any good to change others' actions and I think the day, more often than not, just allows people with the wrong attitude to feel better about themselves because they recycled their Starbucks cup today. Tomorrow, it will be the same shit from those people. Of course I appreciate that there are some people with a healthier attitude, but I don't think having an official Earth Day really does much for them. The sweeping attitudes are not going to change until people realize that both the degradation of the environment AND continued population growth need to be taken into account pretty much all the time. Since I don't think people in the U.S. are going to support the idea of a child-bearing limit like they have in China anytime soon, I think it's pretty inevitable that the attitude of "conservation" is going to have to change to "responsible use." Anybody who doesn't put on both an economist's hat and an environmental scientist's hat when talking about politics and the environment is not taking the right view. __________________ "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." (Michael Jordan)

04-22-2005, 08:48 AM	#21 (permalink)
Meditrina Junkie Location: LI,NY	The idea behind Earth Day started off nice. But I agree, it has lost it's meaning now. People do not need to be tree huggers to appreciate what we have and treat it with respect. __________________ "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

04-26-2005, 06:35 AM	#22 (permalink)
IanSturgill Crazy Location: Lex Vegas, KY	On Earth day a bunch of queers from my school clogged up all the streets and bugged the shit out of evrybody

04-26-2005, 07:05 AM	#23 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	I didn't even realize it was Earth Day... I guess I spent it well in the outdoors (camping at the Great Sand Dunes; hopefully I'll have pictures for everyone soon). Instead I plan to help the Forestry division of my city plant trees next month, and do trail repair at various trails across the state throughout the summer. I figure these are two resources I use, and I may as well put some time and effort into maintaining what I can. Someone's got to do it.