Everyone has heard of Earth Day and we all have this general idea about it; it’s the day we think about the earth. But when is this day? How did it come about? Does PSC even recognize this Earth Day? (These might have been questions you were wondering about, they might have been questions that you weren’t thinking about. However, these questions whether you thought them or not have answers.)
Earth Day is celebrated in the US on April 22, however, many people like to celebrate Earth Day on the weekend so that they can hold events and festivals. Earth Day is sometimes celebrate as a weekly or monthly holiday around April 22. But, as many people claim all over the world, Earth Day should be celebrated everyday.
Earth Day is when we focus on our environmental issues and try to find ways, individually or as a team, to try fix it. Some areas as a whole that need to be addressed are biodiversity, water, forests, energy, equity and environment. Earth Day brings these Earth concerns into light and puts people’s brains to work in coming up with solutions. This has been very successful in past years. Social sectors, nationalities, and cultural groups have joined to observe Earth Day, in an ongoing environmental education program of action and change. Some popular activities that are associated with the Day are clean-ups, restoration projects, fairs, conferences, and concerts. It is starting to be celebrated all over the world, acting for the worlds common good. Where did it come from?
U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, from Wisconsin, thought of the idea in 1962. Mr. Nelson was dissatisfied with the way the politics of the country overlooked the environmental issues. He then spoke with attorney General Robert Kennedy, President, John.F. Kennedy, liked the idea and started his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in 1963; though the tour was not very successful it was the seed that started the growth of Earth Day movement. Six years later, during anti-Vietnam War protests, or the teach-ins, Nelson got the idea to gather people who were as concerned about our earth as he was and have a teach-in focusing on what was happening in our environment. On April 22, 1970 his dream came true. The very first Earth Day took place and was a huge success, with around twenty million Americans in participation. Senator Nelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995. He is the founder of Earth Day and according to President Clinton: “He is the grandfather of all that grew out of that event.”
Common Ground, an environmental and social justice student organization at PSC, is going to be holding several events that will allow you to take part in Earth Day 2002.
It all starts on Monday April 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Common Ground will be providing information tables in the HUB from certain environmental groups. Groups such as the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forest, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and the United States Forest Service. Two presentations will be provided by the Forest Service in Room 119 of the HUB. The first presentation will be at 11:00 a.m. This will be a program on acid rain and the recent research being done in NH’s very own Hubbard Brook. The second presentation will be at 2:00 p.m. on “Managing Our National Forests: The White Mountain National Forest Plan.”
Another exciting event that Common Ground is holding is being arranged with Sodexho, the food provider on campus. Together they have come up with the idea of a meal swap. On Tuesday, April 23, students can sign up and agree to skip a meal and, in return, Sodexho will donate the value of the meals skipped plus a matching amount to the local food pantry.
And to end this festive holiday with a bang, on Friday April 26, The Great New England Energy Show will be coming to PSC, featuring a project from the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution. This project is a large van with many solar panels located on the roof. The electricity produced by the solar energy will provide power and provide safe, clean, renewable power. This van will provide the power for selected bands and musicians. They will entertain the campus on an outdoor stage next to the HUB. This exciting event should start around 4:00 p.m. and continue till about 7:00p.m. All are welcome, and there is no charge.