The 22nd of April every year is proclaimed as Earth day. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the first earth day in 1970. Earth day is just as important as other holidays, and needs to be celebrated more. The history of Earth day, ways to be more sustainable, and why we love Earth day, are all important in understanding why we need Earth day and why it’s important. 

Earth day started in 1970, when around 20 million people nationwide attended the inaugural events at tens of thousands of sites, according to the Library of Congress. They attended elementary schools, high schools, universities, and other community sites across the United States. Senator Gaylord Nelson promoted Earth day by calling students to fight for environmental causes. By the twentieth anniversary of the event, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in celebrating Earth day. The celebrations only continue to grow. The Environmental Protection Agency was established in July of 1970, in response to the growing demand for clean air, water, and land. Their mission is to protect the environment and public health. While 1970 is known for the start of Earth day, cleaner Earth movements existed long before this. Some of these efforts included the creation of the National Parks Service and the designation of some of America’s most majestic sites such as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Mt. Rainer as national parks. Earth day has been around for a long time and continues to grow. 

Being sustainable can sometimes be hard, but it’s important to help the environment. Unplugging your device is one way to become more environmentally friendly. After you unplug your phone from the charger, most people leave the charger still in the outlet. By leaving it there, energy is being wasted, and ruins your chargers capability of charging over time. Even though it may be annoying, unplugging your chargers, and other cords is a simple and effective way to reduce wasting energy. Getting outside more is another way to become more sustainable. In a world full of phones and other screens, getting outside isn’t only better for the Earth, but also your health. In an article by Move for Hunger, “Spending as little as 20 minutes outside reduces stress and anxiety, and helps you sleep better.” By spending more time outside, you are also encouraging other more sustainable activities such as biking, recycling, buying sustainable products, and others. Basic and simple steps can be taken at home to not only better yourself but the environment. 

Earth day is an important day in the world and it should be recognized more. First, small acts matter. Whether you reuse a water bottle, or pick up a piece of trash, your small acts are vital in bettering the Earth. An article by National Today, says that by participating in a single environmentally friendly act, it encourages you to continue to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly, creating a bigger change than you originally thought. Second, we only have one Earth. Earth day is a constant reminder that we only have one Earth, and how fragile our ecosystem really is. It shows us how actions can have a positive impact or negative impact. Not everyone needs to go out and plant a forest, but we can all be reminded of why Earth day is important. Finally, Earth day is important because everyone can participate. The whole point of celebrating Earth day is to spend it together and work together on building a better future. People are able to connect and communicate from all over the world, in order to better the earth. 

In conclusion, the history of Earth day, being more sustainable, and the importance of Earth day are vital in understanding why we celebrate and keep Earth day around.