9781422274057

OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

On April 22, 1970, millions of people across the United States banded together in order to celebrate the first Earth Day. Originally proposed by US Senator Gaylord Nelson, the premise behind the day was to celebrate na- ture and recognize the problems that nega- tively affect the environment. The hope was to build awareness and to educate the general

public on environmental issues. This first Earth Day was deemed highly successfully. It helped lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that same year, as well as the passage of important legislation: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Over time, Earth Day has become a global event, with people all over the world coming together to encourage their fellow citizens to do what they can to pro- tect the earth. While it may seem a little silly to have an entire day dedicated to the planet earth, it is important to realize that environmental awareness was not always cultivated in the general populace. In the immediate years leading up to 1970, Americans watched as oil spills, air pollution, water pollution, and other environmental issues impacted their

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