EARTH DAY 2020

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Today, Wednesday 22nd of April 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The monstrous photomontage of gas mask and globe below is from the original Earth Day, of a world suffocating from pollution, is if anything more relevant today than it was 50 years ago.

On the 22nd of April 1970 over 20 million Americans attended demonstrations, protesting environmental pollution and demanding action to protect their habitat from further harm.

Denis Hayes, April 1970, head of Environment Teach-In Inc at the group’s office

In 1969 Denis Hayes, who was a recent graduate student at Harvard, had a brief meeting with the US senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. With an idea for a national teach-in about environmentalism, he landed a job that would result in him organising the original Earth Day on this day in 1970.

Image via Smithsonian Magazine
At a demonstration against Louisiana’s oil industry at Tulane University in New Orleans, April 22, 1970. The demonstration was part of the first observance of Earth Day. Image via AP Photo

The gigantic crowds that would have assembled around the world today instead find themselves in lockdown due to the ongoing pandemic. In an article for Seattle Times, Denis Hayes draws comparisons to the events 50 years ago and suggests why American’s should instead celebrate their Earth Day on November 3rd this year, urging to vote for the Earth (which we agree to).

Learn more and get involved here!