If you're busy celebrating Earth Day and you're curious about the history of it, here's a little background on it.

Earth Day was created by Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Senator in 1962. Mr. Nelson wanted to create awareness about our environment in a time when these concerns weren't a focus in the political arena.

Despite presenting his thoughts and ideas, his "Earth Day" didn't immediately take off. A grass roots movement in 1970 brought this day into the collective of Americans.


Photo of Gaylord Nelson enjoying some time in nature.

Mr. Nelson said: "Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures. The battle to restore a proper relationship between man and his environment, between man and other living creatures will require a long, sustained, political, moral, ethical, and financial commitment - far beyond any effort made before."

All these years later Gaylord Nelson's vision brings communities, countries and people together for a single minded purpose - to make our environment a better place for today, tomorrow and decades to come.

COURTESY: Goongee

Copyright 2007-2010 by Times of the Internet. All Rights Reserved.