The document discusses the history of Earth Day. It describes how in the 1960s there were no environmental protection laws and pollution was legal. Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day in 1970, which involved over 20 million Americans raising awareness about environmental issues. This event helped pass laws like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Earth Day has since become an international event observed in over 184 countries each year.

1. Earth DayHow can we make a difference?

2. Pass It On Down - Alabama·We live in the land of plenty·But many things aren't plenty anymore·Like the water from our sink·They say's not safe to drink·You gotta go and buy it at the store·Now we're told there's a hole in the ozone·Look what's washing on the beach·And Lord, I believe, from the heavens to the seas·We're bringing Mother Nature to her knees·So let's leave some blue up above us·Let's leave some green on the ground·It's only ours to borrow, let's save some for tomorrow·Leave it and pass it on down·Well there's a change taking place way on the mountains·Acid rain is falling on the leaves·And down in Brazil, the fires are burning still·How we gonna breathe without them trees·So let's leave some blue up above us·Let's leave some green on the ground·It's only ours to borrow, let's save some for tomorrow·Leave it and pass it on down ·There's a place where I live called the Canyon·Where Daddy taught me to swim·And that water, it's so pure·And I'm gonna make sure·Daddy's grandkids can swim there like him ·Now we all oughta feel just a little bit guilty·When we look into the eyes of our kids·'Cause brothers it's a fact, if we take and don't put back·They'll have to pay for all we did·So let's leave some blue up above us·Let's leave some green on the ground·It's only ours to borrow, let's save some for tomorrow·Leave it and pass it on down

3. Earth Day History·Did you know that before 1970, a factory could dump pollution in the air or water, and it was legal? They could not be taken to court to stop it.·How? There was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. In other words, there were no laws to protect our environment.·In 1962, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided something needed to be done to protect the environment. Nelson realized very few people were concerned about environmental problems. The work that he began led to what we now know as Earth Day.

4. Earth Day History·Nelson went to Washington, D.C., to convince President John F. Kennedy to take a stand on environmental issues. President Kennedy agreed that action should be taken.·The President set out on a 11-state conservation tour in September 1963. The "tour" wasn't really a success - people just weren't thinking about environmental issues. Nelson didn't give up. He kept speaking about the importance of the environment. His point of view began to catch on among most people, but politicians still were not listening.

5. Earth Day History·In September 1969, Nelson announced a nationwide demonstration on behalf of the environment the next spring. He invited everyone at that conference to attend.·On April 22, 1970, more than 20 million demonstrators and thousands of schools and local communities participated in Nelson's demonstration. People began to pay attention to environmental issues, and word about the environment began to spread. ·On March 21, 1971, the UN Secretary-General signed a proclamation establishing Earth Day as an official international holiday. ·In 1990, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries, and gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide.

6. Earth Day History·Earth Day 2000 focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. Because of the Internet, more than 5,000 environmental groups around the world got involved, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people in a record 184 countries. ·2011 marks the 41st anniversary of that first Earth Day, with events planned around the world.

7. Earth Day History·Earth Day 1970 worked because it had support from so many different types of people - Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city people and country people, bosses, and workers. That first Earth Day led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.·Sen. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.·Gaylord Nelson died on July 3, 2005, but his fight to preserve the world's environment continues.