When I first conceived of Earth Day, a global holiday to celebrate the wonder of life on our planet, I thought long and hard about the day on which it should fall. It must be meaningful. One that might be accepted universally for all of humankind.
When the Vernal Equinox dawned on me, I immediately knew it was right. The Earth tremor that shook our California dwelling at that moment seemed an omen of confirmation. What could be more appropriate than the first moment of Spring, when day and night are equal around the world and hearts and minds can join together with thoughts of harmony and Earth's rejuvenation. Just as a single prayer can be siginificant, how much more so when hundreds, thousands, millions of people throughout the world join in peaceful thoughts and prayers to nurture neighbor and nature.
And so it came to pass we initiated the celebration of Earth Day on March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Designating the First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 to be Earth Day, this day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. Earth Day was firmly established for all time on a sound basis as an annual event to deepen reverence and care for life on our planet.
While other dates have been called Earth Day it is obvious that a singular Earth Day is needed and that the original choice of nature's day is best. More attention for this fact will increase the influence of Earth Day and its benefits.
Every effort to encourage Earth care is to be commended. But just as more than one birthday each year for an individual would diminish the real birthday, calling other dates Earth Day detracts from the authentic day -- which can provide a more meaningful focus and obtain more unity in our diversity. The nature of the March equinox provides a reason for an event at the same time all over the world.
Other events leading up to or following could be called Earth Festivals, or given other names. Then events can complement each other and increase awareness and care for our planet and its people. In the midst of this will be Earth Day, where the United Nations Peace Bell rings at the moment Spring begins and hearts and minds join all over the world.
Earth Day was first observed in Spring of 1970. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended festivities out of which came the largest grassroots environmental movement in U.S. history, and the impetus for national legislation like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. By the twentieth anniversary of that event, April 22, 1990, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.
Since the first Earth Day, however, the environmental movement has increasingly transformed itself from a largely grassroots, citizen crusade to a professionally-organized, established special interest.
每年的4月22日是“世界地球日” (World Earth Day) 。
世界地球日活动起源于美国,旨在唤起人类爱护地球、保护家园的意识,促进资源开发与环境保护的协调发展。1969年,美国民主党参议员盖洛德·尼尔森提议,在全国各大学校园内举办环保问题讲演会,并将次年的4月22日作为“地球日”。当时25岁的哈佛大学法学院学生丹尼斯·海斯很快就将尼尔森的提议变成了一个在全美各地展开大规模社区性活动的具体构想,并得到很多青年学生的积极响应。他到各地进行宣传,组织2000万人参加游行和演讲。现在,全球已经有许多国家的个人和民间团体参与了地球日活动,运动的成功使得在每年4月22日组织环保活动成为一种惯例。由此催生了1972年联合国第一次人类环境会议。而1970年活动的组织者丹尼斯·海斯也被人们称为地球日之父。
爱护地球 我们都是地球人,全都住在地球村,爱护地球好环境,人人都要尽责任。天蓝蓝,水清清,没污染,没噪音,地球家园多秀美,住在里面真舒心。
美化地球村 各国小朋友,大家手拉手。你来搞绿化,我来治沙丘。美化地球村,个个争上游。
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