Julie Hancock: How to celebrate the 52nd birthday of Earth Day

“The greatest threat we have to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

— Rober Swan

Sen. Gaylord Nelson spearheaded the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. Why the 22nd? It was a Wednesday, the middle of the week, and Nelson was concerned that if it was on a weekend kids on college campuses might not help celebrate this first year.

Earth Day was one of the results of a generation of young people speaking out, the movement capitalized on the emerging consciousness of the times and the music reflected this movement toward peace and protecting our precious home. It led to the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans (10% of the US population at the time) took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event each year. Many countries soon adopted similar laws and, in 2016, the United Nation chose Earth Day to sign the Paris Climate Agreement into force.

I remember the protests back in the ‘60s and ‘70s and the importance of my generation to have our voices and our concerns for the future heard. Here we are in 2022 and again we are facing war crimes and environmental tragedies. Innocent lives and homes lost, warming temperatures melting our polar caps, mega-droughts, violent tropical storms, the list goes on.

Where there are problems there are solutions. Let’s honor the values of that first Earth Day by having our voices heard. We the people can help turn the tides and protect our home by taking climate action. Here are some solutions:

• Show support for Ukraine. Tell the president that you stand with Ukraine by helping America switch off fossil fuels that are the lifeblood of the Russian economy. “Fight Mean Go Green.”

• Volunteer for Organizations such as Citizens Climate Lobby.

• Call your member of Congress.

• Climate action using social media.

So, as we address environmental issues and climate change, we the people can help protect this beautiful world we live and depend on.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

— Margaret Mead

Julie Hancock was a backcountry ranger in Arches National Park and Zion National Park and recently retired as the director of the Canyon Community Center in Springdale. She lives in Virgin, Utah.