What is Earth Day? Imagine this…before 1970 a factory could spew out black clouds of toxic smoke into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby streams. And guess what? It actually was not illegal. Back then there was no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Air Act, and no Clean Water Act. There were essentially no legal or regulatory protections in place for the environment.
Who established Earth Day? In the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day to push this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities and it worked! In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues – the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
When is Earth Day? Earth Day falls on April 22 every year. This year, it falls on a Saturday.
“Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space.”
Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist
Why do we celebrate Earth Day? Millions of people around the world celebrate and recognize Earth Day to connect with nature, as well as advocate for and protect the planet and its resources. Earth Day puts a collective global focus on celebrating and preserving the earth’s beauty for decades and centuries to come.
Being in nature is one of the best stress management strategies out there and Colorado is a beautiful place to spend time in nature! Spending time in nature improves overall mood, reduces stress, and increases physical, mental, and social wellness.
According to a recent Harvard study, people that walked in a natural setting instead of an urban one for 90+ minutes experienced lower activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain—the area of the brain that is active when we ruminate on negative emotions or repetitive thoughts.
While Coloradans have a backyard full of gorgeous natural spaces to explore, often it’s not as simple as just walking outside and being in nature. Here are some tips to incorporate nature into your daily routine:
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