Earth Day celebrates trees too, but also clean air, clean water, and the protection of our environment. The Earth Day movement kicked off in 1970 at a time when the public, including US Senator Gaylord Nelson, who would eventually become Earth Day’s founder, was becoming aware of the dangers of pollution to human health and that of our environment. The end of April was ideal since students wouldn’t be preoccupied by spring break or final exams. But that likely wasn’t his only reason for picking that date. Nelson may have been drawn to it, too, because of Arbor Day. With folks in many states already planning to honor Mother Nature on this day, his movement would win more appeal.
