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Spikes in prices raise awareness of the need to conserve resources Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, a result of the efforts of Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.), a passionate advocate of protecting the environment and increasing awareness of environmental issues. While social activism was at peak levels in the late 1960s and early ’70s, legislation on environmental issues was nearly nonexistent. Nelson struggled since he was elected to the Senate in 1962 to persuade Congress to establish an environmental agenda. Frustrated by the obstacles and resistance he faced, he appealed to the mood of the public and designated April 22 as a “national day for the environment.” He hoped to impress upon fellow politicians that humans have an enormous impact on the environment. Nelson certainly achieved his goal. More than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration, prompting voter-hungry politicians to take notice. The overwhelming response helped generate a new political focus on the environment. As that focus has become increasingly global, more people than ever are celebrating Earth Day around the world. In the past several years as countries all over the world have been mired in recession and affected by turmoil in the Middle East, Earth Day has taken on increased significance. Indeed, skyrocketing food, gas, and oil prices have impacted people rich and poor, businesses large and small. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the spike in energy and food prices has increased awareness about the dangers of global warming and inspired people and corporations to conserve resources and “go green.” Many companies are doing their part by encouraging employees to use less paper and take public transportation to and from work, allowing some employees to telecommute, and using green materials and alternative heating systems when they rebuild or renovate. On the consumer side, sales of hybrid cars are up, while gas-guzzling SUVs are crowding used-car lots. People are trading in their standard light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs, and clotheslines are becoming as popular in backyards as swing sets. These measures not only save energy and the Earth, they also save money.

Facts & Stats about Pollution and Global Warming Find explanations of the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer, and substances that pollute the air; statistics about polluted areas in the U.S. and the world, information about environmental disasters, and more. Air Pollutants Global Warming Greenhouse Effect All About Ozone Most Polluted Places in the United States Most Polluted Places in the World Top Corporate Polluters America’s Most Endangered Rivers Marine Debris A Warming Ocean Top Carbon Dioxide Emitters in the World Most and Least Polluting Vehicles Going Green Learn how to turn your environmentally mean lifestyle into a green one. Building Green Greenest Buildings in the United States Greenest Colleges in the United States Tips for Planning a Green Wedding Green Hotels Recycling Facts The Recycling Process Reduce, Recycle, Reuse How to Save Energy Taking Care of the Earth Every Day Environmental Disasters Read about some of the largest disasters in the world that were caused by human activity and upset the delicate balance of nature. 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Timeline Largest Oil Spills in the U.S. Largest Oil Spills in the World Oil Spill Glossary 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan Nuclear and Chemical Accidents Earth-Altering Accidents More disaster information… Energy: Production & Consumption Find out which countries use and produce the most energy, how much the U.S. consumes, where the largest nuclear power plants in the U.S. are located, and more. Sources of U.S. Energy Largest Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S. The World’s Top Energy Producers and Consumers U.S. Energy Consumption by Source Renewable Energy Consumption in the U.S. More information about sources and consumption of energy… History & Biographies Take a look at the history of the environmental movement and read biographies of pioneers in the field. Environmental Milestones Timeline Rachel Carson George Grinnell William Hornaday Aldo Leopold Wangari Muta Maathai John Muir Quizzes, Games, & Activities Try one of these quizzes about the environment or make an environmentally themed craft. Environment Quiz Global Warming Quiz Famous Environmentalists Green Awareness Hangman Game Environmentally-Friendly Crafts for Earth Day Rainsticks from Recyclables From Trash to Crafts

 

 

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Spikes in prices raise awareness of the need to conserve resources

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, a result of the efforts of Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.), a passionate advocate of protecting the environment and increasing awareness of environmental issues. While social activism was at peak levels in the late 1960s and early ’70s, legislation on environmental issues was nearly nonexistent. Nelson struggled since he was elected to the Senate in 1962 to persuade Congress to establish an environmental agenda. Frustrated by the obstacles and resistance he faced, he appealed to the mood of the public and designated April 22 as a “national day for the environment.” He hoped to impress upon fellow politicians that humans have an enormous impact on the environment. Nelson certainly achieved his goal. More than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration, prompting voter-hungry politicians to take notice. The overwhelming response helped generate a new political focus on the environment. As that focus has become increasingly global, more people than ever are celebrating Earth Day around the world.

In the past several years as countries all over the world have been mired in recession and affected by turmoil in the Middle East, Earth Day has taken on increased significance. Indeed, skyrocketing food, gas, and oil prices have impacted people rich and poor, businesses large and small. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the spike in energy and food prices has increased awareness about the dangers of global warming and inspired people and corporations to conserve resources and “go green.”

Many companies are doing their part by encouraging employees to use less paper and take public transportation to and from work, allowing some employees to telecommute, and using green materials and alternative heating systems when they rebuild or renovate. On the consumer side, sales of hybrid cars are up, while gas-guzzling SUVs are crowding used-car lots. People are trading in their standard light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs, and clotheslines are becoming as popular in backyards as swing sets. These measures not only save energy and the Earth, they also save money.

Facts & Stats about Pollution and Global Warming Find explanations of the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer, and substances that pollute the air; statistics about polluted areas in the U.S. and the world, information about environmental disasters, and more. Air Pollutants Global Warming Greenhouse Effect All About Ozone Most Polluted Places in the United States Most Polluted Places in the World Top Corporate Polluters America’s Most Endangered Rivers Marine Debris A Warming Ocean Top Carbon Dioxide Emitters in the World Most and Least Polluting Vehicles Going Green Learn how to turn your environmentally mean lifestyle into a green one. Building Green Greenest Buildings in the United States Greenest Colleges in the United States Tips for Planning a Green Wedding Green Hotels Recycling Facts The Recycling Process Reduce, Recycle, Reuse How to Save Energy Taking Care of the Earth Every Day Environmental Disasters Read about some of the largest disasters in the world that were caused by human activity and upset the delicate balance of nature. 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Timeline Largest Oil Spills in the U.S. Largest Oil Spills in the World Oil Spill Glossary 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan Nuclear and Chemical Accidents Earth-Altering Accidents More disaster information… Energy: Production & Consumption Find out which countries use and produce the most energy, how much the U.S. consumes, where the largest nuclear power plants in the U.S. are located, and more. Sources of U.S. Energy Largest Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S. The World’s Top Energy Producers and Consumers U.S. Energy Consumption by Source Renewable Energy Consumption in the U.S. More information about sources and consumption of energy… History & Biographies Take a look at the history of the environmental movement and read biographies of pioneers in the field. Environmental Milestones Timeline Rachel Carson George Grinnell William Hornaday Aldo Leopold Wangari Muta Maathai John Muir Quizzes, Games, & Activities Try one of these quizzes about the environment or make an environmentally themed craft. Environment Quiz Global Warming Quiz Famous Environmentalists Green Awareness Hangman Game Environmentally-Friendly Crafts for Earth Day Rainsticks from Recyclables From Trash to Crafts

Facts & Stats about Pollution and Global Warming

Find explanations of the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer, and substances that pollute the air; statistics about polluted areas in the U.S. and the world, information about environmental disasters, and more.

  • Air Pollutants
  • Global Warming
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • All About Ozone
  • Most Polluted Places in the United States
  • Most Polluted Places in the World
  • Top Corporate Polluters
  • America’s Most Endangered Rivers
  • Marine Debris
  • A Warming Ocean
  • Top Carbon Dioxide Emitters in the World
  • Most and Least Polluting Vehicles

Going Green

Learn how to turn your environmentally mean lifestyle into a green one.

  • Building Green
  • Greenest Buildings in the United States
  • Greenest Colleges in the United States
  • Tips for Planning a Green Wedding
  • Green Hotels
  • Recycling Facts
  • The Recycling Process
  • Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
  • How to Save Energy
  • Taking Care of the Earth Every Day

Environmental Disasters

Read about some of the largest disasters in the world that were caused by human activity and upset the delicate balance of nature.

  • 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Timeline
  • Largest Oil Spills in the U.S.
  • Largest Oil Spills in the World
  • Oil Spill Glossary
  • 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
  • Nuclear and Chemical Accidents
  • Earth-Altering Accidents
  • More disaster information…

Energy: Production & Consumption

Find out which countries use and produce the most energy, how much the U.S. consumes, where the largest nuclear power plants in the U.S. are located, and more.

  • Sources of U.S. Energy
  • Largest Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S.
  • The World’s Top Energy Producers and Consumers
  • U.S. Energy Consumption by Source
  • Renewable Energy Consumption in the U.S.
  • More information about sources and consumption of energy…

History & Biographies

Take a look at the history of the environmental movement and read biographies of pioneers in the field.

  • Environmental Milestones Timeline
  • Rachel Carson
  • George Grinnell
  • William Hornaday
  • Aldo Leopold
  • Wangari Muta Maathai
  • John Muir

Quizzes, Games, & Activities

Try one of these quizzes about the environment or make an environmentally themed craft.

  • Environment Quiz
  • Global Warming Quiz
  • Famous Environmentalists
  • Green Awareness Hangman Game
  • Environmentally-Friendly Crafts for Earth Day
  • Rainsticks from Recyclables
  • From Trash to Crafts

 

.com/science/environment/ecological-turmoil.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

Our Common Sources

Milestones in Environmental Protection

  • Milestones in Environmental Protection

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales