April 22nd we celebrate the fifty-year anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970. Living in Washington, D.C. I took a bus down to the Lincoln Memorial to join those who were inspired by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Governor Nelson had promoted the idea Earth Day after the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara the autumn of l969. I painted flowers on my face and made garlands of ivy for my hair to prepare for joining the 7000 people gathered to educate about environment and celebrate our earth. Across the country twenty million people were doing the same. I had been a “flower child” and free spirit in the 60’s. Now I had one-year old daughter and a responsibility to her and her generation to raise awareness about the dangers of pollution and deforestation. Also, the gathering at the mall sounded like a great Spring outing!
Stephanie, my rosy, blond baby, had a little decal flower on her cheek and wore her Oshkosh overalls riding in her baby backpack as we strode down Independence Avenue to the Lincoln Memorial. The sky was deep blue and cloudless; the late April sun felt hot and I secured the elastic strap of her eyelet sun hat under her chubby chin. We had no clue about SPF back in those days. Once on the Mall along the reflecting pool, I spread a small blanket under the trees. People were playing folk songs on guitars, beginning to wade into the pool and openly smoking marijuana. But it was a far cry from the Woodstock “three days of peace and music” from the year before! Some of the participants had made signs with color pictures of our planet and slogans about protecting it and treasuring the resources we were given. The whole scene had wonderful feel of unity and dedication.
According to EarthDay.org: "Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts."
Today science has discovered many ways we can work together to sustain life on our fragile planet in the future. We have learned how to recycle and how to protect the wildlife and habitats that have been compromised. Neighbors here on our island donate their time to picking up trash and maintaining the trees and shrubs on the verges along our roads. There is so much more we can accomplish to protect and preserve life on earth as we celebrate fifty years of Earth Day!
