The History of Earth Day
In 1963, former Senator Gaylord Nelson began to worry about our planet.
(A senator is a person that the people of the United States have chosen to
help make the laws.) Senator Nelson knew that our world was getting dirty
and that many of our plants and animals were dying. He wondered why
more people weren't trying to solve these problems. He talked to other
lawmakers and to the President. They decided that the President would go
around the country and tell people about these concerns. He did, but still
not enough people were working on the problem.
Then, in 1969, Senator Nelson had another idea. He decided to have a
special day to teach everyone about the things that needed changing in our
environment. He wrote letters to all of the colleges and put a special article
in Scholastic Magazine to tell them about the special day he had planned.
(Most of the schools got this magazine and he knew that kids would help
him.)
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held. People all over the country
made promises to help the environment. Everyone got involved and since
then, Earth Day has spread all over the planet. People all over the world
know that there are problems we need to work on and this is our special
day to look at the planet and see what needs changing. Isn't it great? One
person had an idea and kept working until everyone began working
together to solve it. See what happens when people care about our world?
1) Reduce/Reuse/Recycle



Reduce:
o Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
o Buy and use only what you need.
o Buy products with less packaging.
o Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.
Reuse:
o Repair items as much as possible.
o Use durable coffee mugs.
o Use cloth napkins or towels.
o Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
o Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
o Reuse boxes.
o Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
Recycle:
o Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic,
glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community
doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
o Recycle electronics.
o Recycle used motor oil
o Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead
plants.
o Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use
recycled packaging.
2) Save Energy






Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an
oven.)
Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your
power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired.
Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.
Insulate your home, water heater and pipes.
3) Use Less Water












Don't let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
Take short showers instead of tub baths.
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run
until the water is cool.
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher;
wash only full loads.
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or
load size selection on the washing machine.
Buy high-efficient plumbing fixtures & appliances.
Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day).
Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early
morning is best).
Water plants differently according to what they need. Check with your
local extension service or nurseries for advice.
Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only – not the street or
sidewalk.
Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
Sweep outside instead of using a hose.
Volunteer
This page provides some volunteer opportunities and also allows you to search for more.
Earth Team Volunteers
www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/volunteers
The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources
Conservation Service needs people 14 and older to help
reduce soil loss, protect water supplies, and more.
Forest Service Volunteer
www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/volunteers.html
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the USDA Forest Service.
Your talents and skills are matched with your work
preference to satisfy you and fulfill the mission of the Forest
Service.
Take Pride in America
takepride.gov
Help maintain our natural, cultural and historic resources on
public lands.
National Youth Service Day
(mid-April each year)
www.ysa.org/nysd
The largest service event in the world, mobilizing millions of
young Americans to identify and address the needs of their
communities through service
USA Freedom Corps
www.usafreedomcorps.gov
Find service opportunities that match your interests and
talents in your home town, across the country or around the
world.
Volunteer.gov/gov
www.volunteer.gov/gov
Find ways to volunteer with government at all levels
Event:
Tucson's Community Earth Day Celebration!
Event Start
Date & Time:
Event End
Date & Time:
Organization:
4/22/2006 11:00 a.m.
Event
Address:
Reid Park DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center: 18th St. and S. Country Club Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85719
United States
4/22/2006 4:00 p.m.
Tucson Community Earth Day Working Group
Description: Tucson's Community Earth Day Celebration!
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF TUCSON'S COMMUNITY EARTH
DAY!
This event will bring the people of southern Arizona opportunities to celebrate the planet
we love. We will raise consciousness about the problems we face, rekindle public
commitment, build community networks, and explore creative and positive solutions for
change toward sustainability.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
LIVE MUSIC all day!
Booths, displays and activities hosted by local people doing conservation work to protect
wildlife and habitat; sustainable living/building practices; peace and justice activism;
community gardens/agriculture and native plants; wildlife rescue and animal care; earthfriendly products, and more!
Poetry reading by middle school poetry contest winners
Workshops and all-ages activities, including face painting, puppets, and a Kids corner for
the young ones.
Tasty food and drinks!
Tucson Community Earth Day Celebration
will be dynamic and fun!
Visit www.communityearthday.org for more information
Contact: John Douglas Archer at (520) 245-7629 or gyokuro@gmail.com