|Lauren Jordan, Environmental Resources Committee|
This year marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. After witnessing the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson put forth the idea for a nationwide environmental teach-in on college campuses to demonstrate support for environmental protection on April 22, 1970. Once Denis Hayes, a young activist, and Pete McCloskey, a Republican Congressman, and a national staff were on board, Earth Day began to inspire people all across the country and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and environmental laws including the National Environmental Education Act. Over the decades, EARTHDAY.ORG has been internationally recognized and continues to mobilize millions of people to take global action for the environment.
EARTHDAY.ORG will host its second Earth Day live digital event on April 22 at 12pm, with workshops, panel discussions, and special performances to focus on emerging green technology, innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems, and more.
The Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will host a variety of workshops in April – May about vernal pools, managing Maine’s moose and reptile population, and Maine’s Beginning with Habitat program.
Environment Maine put together a list of fun activities and video presentations for kids to celebrate Earth Day, and a list of curriculum ideas on plastic pollution and energy use in the home.
Earth Day is a celebration of learning about the world around us, and why we all need to preserve and protect it. So even if you don’t participate in some of this year’s virtual events, you can still find a little time to appreciate the beautiful and vibrant environment of New Gloucester and maybe learn something new.
