Greetings Friend!
It is April 22nd,1970 at a college in Boston, the first Earth Day and I was nominated to Co-Chair the event at my university. At only 19, I knew that if we created a movement and made our voices heard we would make a difference. Earth Day, started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, began with a belief that we only have one earth, so we need to take care of her. Nelson announced a national environmental teach-in, calling it “Earth Day” to be held on April 22nd, 1970. On that day, an estimated 20 million people nationwide participated and the movement began. By the end of 1970 the EPA was established and shortly thereafter the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act was enacted.
Fast forward to 2018, 48 years later and here we are again about to celebrate Earth Day, only this time I am a grandparent with two young, beautiful grandchildren. Although we have come a long way since April 22nd, 1970, these important protections are slipping away before our eyes and the threats of global warming are now the crisis of 2018.
We must act now and mobilize elders to stand up and take action to preserve this planet for our grandchildren. I still believe that if we create a movement we will make a difference. You can honor the earth and all grandchildren this Earth Day by making a contribution to Elders Climate Action so that we may continue our work and make the voices of elders stronger.
For the grandchildren, future generations and all life,