Earth Day 2024
A History Lesson
in Haibun
by Marj Becker
When Earth Day comes around every year, what do we think about? Do we wonder why we have Earth Day? It seems that before Earth Day was established and on or about June 22, 1969, several things occurred that spurred the establishing of this special day. A river was burning (the Cuyahoga River on Lake Erie); our nation’s symbol, the bald eagle, was endangered; an oil rig had dumped oil into the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara; whales were being hunted nearly to extinction. We may not remember those times, but they served to trigger the idea of recognizing that our home – our Earth – was in trouble. Do you know Earth Day? Where were you the first Earth Day?
Do you help our Earth?
At that time, Gaylord Nelson was Governor of the Great State of Wisconsin. He and the United States Senate decided to organize something called a “teach in” about the many problems putting our world in danger. This teach in was to take place on April 22, 1970. Colleges and universities, as well as local public schools were willing to take part. It is said that almost ten percent of the citizens of the United States participated. That was twenty million people! Someone seemed to care about our earth. And, say so by coming together on that day to talk about the dangers facing our home.
Do you speak your mind? How do you approach Earth Day? Earth Day – Can you help?
This grassroots idea took hold over all of the Earth. And, so the very first Earth Day happened. People proclaimed, “We care about our Earth – our home!” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were established because of these issues. Every state has a part of NOAA located in the state. Do you know that our NOAA office for Colorado is in Boulder? So, every year, we have Earth Day. This year, 2024, Earth Day was Monday, April 22. Did you think about our Earth on that day? How often do you give thought to the danger that our home is in? Where are you on the issue of climate change – the “biggie” that we must consider when thinking about the health of our Earth? Our children’s legacy.
Will your progeny
Have an Earth to live upon?
Where were you, this year?
Full disclosure – as “they” say. Information for this poem came from information from “the web.” First published in Tips and Chips, the newsletter of the Denver Gem and Mineral Guild, May 2024.