April 22 is International Earth Day, an event designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the problems that affect our planet , most of them caused by human action. In its resolution, the organization recognizes “that the Earth and its ecosystems are our home, and convinced that in order to achieve a fair balance between the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature. and earth”.
Why April 22? It was that day, in 1970, when millions of Americans took to the streets to raise awareness about the fragility of the Earth. It is said that one of the precursors of this massive mobilization was Gaylord Nelson, senator from Wisconsin, who witnessed the ravages of the oil spill that occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara (California) in 1969 and was inspired by the pacifist demonstrations during the War of Vietnam.
The mobilizations had their repercussions: at the end of that year, the US created its Environmental Protection Agency , and the Clean Air, Clean Waters and Endangered Species Act was approved.
Two years after the celebration of that first Earth Day, another key event in the protection of the environment took place: the Stockholm Conference, which was the first world summit on the environment. Although its action plan has not yet materialized into concrete proposals, it was undoubtedly a great milestone that served to sensitize the world to the problems of our planet.
The celebration of International Earth Day went global in 1990. That year, two hundred million people were mobilized in 141 countries, and environmental problems finally came to the fore. Thanks to its great repercussion, the path that led to the celebration of the Rio Summit (1992) was paved, and in 1995 Bill Clinton awarded Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A few years after the 50th anniversary of the celebration of Earth Day, which will be in 2050, environmental organizations around the world continue to draw attention to some of the most urgent problems that threaten the health of our planet: plastic waste, climate change and pollution, among others.
