When did April 22 become Earth Day? [Video]

EARTH — Each year, on April 22, people across the world take part in Earth Day discussions and events. Each of them is an effort to care for the environment. 

But, how did Earth Day start? 

Gaylord Nelson, a former U.S. Senator and Gov. of Wisconsin, had the idea in 1969. According to Nelson’s Earth Day,  the idea came to him following a trip to California to view the aftermath of the Santa Barbara oil spill. 

After his trip, he learned about a series of anti-Vietnam War teach-ins that were happening on college campuses. Professors and students had organized them. 

The teach-ins inspired Nelson according to EarthDay.org. At the time, the public was only just becoming familiar with the ideas of air and water pollution. 

Nelson thought that if colleges across the country held teach-ins on the same day, lawmakers in Washington, D.C. might pay attention. 

He proposed the idea in two speeches. The idea caught on. Newspapers began printing the story.

…