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The first Earth Day took place in 1970, when Wisconsin junior senator Nelson teamed up with youth activist Denis Hayes to recruit protesters against industrial factories which insouciantly poisoned the Earth with sludge and other pollutants. After Rachel Carson's novel Silent Spring (the first influential book published in America to call attention to the effects of air pollution on animals, air, earth, and water) swept across the nation in 1962, people were ready to do something to save their Earth. Over 20 million Americans joined the demonstration, and at the end of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was established, and the first environmental protection laws were passed. Eventually, Earth Day went on to encompass not only the fight against air pollution and careless oil use, but also the promotion of recycling and a race against global climate change.
The first Earth Day took place in 1970, when Wisconsin junior senator Nelson teamed up with youth activist Denis Hayes to recruit protesters against industrial factories which insouciantly poisoned the Earth with sludge and other pollutants. After Rachel Carson's novel Silent Spring (the first influential book published in America to call attention to the effects of air pollution on animals, air, earth, and water) swept across the nation in 1962, people were ready to do something to save their Earth. Over 20 million Americans joined the demonstration, and at the end of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was established, and the first environmental protection laws were passed. Eventually, Earth Day went on to encompass not only the fight against air pollution and careless oil use, but also the promotion of recycling and a race against global climate change.
Below is the original broadcast of CBS News Special Report on the first Earth Day in 1970.
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