Earth Day
2015
Ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle
- be conservative about how you use electricity, and learn when you don't need it
- instead of using your car or riding a bus to get somewhere, try walking or riding your bike
- use a non-disposable water bottle
History of Earth Day
In 1962, Gaylord Nelson decided something needed to be done to protect the environment. His work later became an international holiday. He realized that not many people were worried about environmental problems like deforestation and pollution. It was troubling him for seven years that it was a non-issue in the politics of our country. He then went to Washington, D.C., where he hoped to convince President John F. Kennedy to help the environmental issues. It wasn't long before the President heard his requests and agreed that something should be done. The President set out on a five-day conservation tour of the country in September 1963. Although the President's tour was not a success, Nelson was not ready to give up. He went to 25 states and told many people about the importance of the environment. On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million demonstrators and thousands of schools and communities took part in his demonstration. Finally on March 21, 1971, the UN Secretary signed an declaration establishing Earth Day as an official international holiday.
- The average American uses 700 pounds of paper a year. That is about 465 trees per person, just for paper!
- A glass bottle will take about 40,000 years to decompose if not recycled
- Only 1% of plastic shopping bags are recycled