Take the time to learn more about Mother Earth this year. One of the largest, most celebrated environmental events worldwide is approaching. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year with the purpose to focus, educate, and increase public awareness of the world’s environmental issues.

Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was the brainchild and driving force of the first Earth Day that first germinated in the 1960s and was organized in 1970. Nelson, also an environmentalist, was concerned that an issue about our environment was not addressed in politics or by the media. He wanted to increase awareness of the environment. The first Earth Day was about the overall quality of life and the well being of everything in the earth.

“The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy, and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda,” Nelson said.

This stand on the concern for the environment launched the modern American environmental movement. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held.

“Earth Day achieved what I had hoped for,” Nelson said. “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political arena. It was a gamble, but it worked. An estimated 20 million people participated in peaceful demonstrations all across the county. Ten thousand grade schools and high schools, 2,000 colleges, and 1,000 communities were involved. That was the remarkable thing that became Earth Day.”

The huge turnout for the first Earth Day provided the momentum that eventually led to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress creating laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Acts.

Earth Day paved the road way to send a message to public officials and the rest of the world to protect and care about the planet. Today, Earth Day is celebrated globally with the purpose to bring environmental awareness through a variety of activities and events in order actively bring every day citizens together to build a better future and impact for the environment.

Throughout the month of April the New River Valley (NRV) and surrounding areas are hosting a series of events to celebrate Earth Day.

In Roanoke on April 18, starting at noon to 4 p.m., Grandin Village will host a variety of festival events including environmental education, a wellness tour through the gardens, and a rich tapestry of information booths that will share ideas about local food, health, fitness, and free massages demos. There will also be mini workshops that will cover subjects such composting, raw foods, bee keeping, and permaculture. The Grandin Theatre will also show an Earth Day film called “Solar Energy: Saved by the Sun.” Music food will also be provided.

Other Earth Day events:
• In Blacksburg, the community is called to create volunteer opportunities to enhance tree coverage in parks. The Tree Nursery, a plot of land in the Municipal Park, is where the community is called to re-plant the tree nursery with a variety of trees and re-plant 45 trees in the park. The Tree Nursery, a plot of land in the Municipal Park, is where small tree stock is planted and cared for within two years.

• The Floyd County High School will present their second annual Earth Day Event from 9 a.m.-4:30p.m. There will be speakers in the auditorium that will talk about topics such as the potential for green economic opportunities in Floyd County, new trends in Floyd organic farming, bio-mass energy production, and financial permaculture. There will also be informational booths in the lobby.

• Floyd County will be having its annual Green and Clean spring cleanup starting at 8 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help with the cleanup for this year and they are asked to meet at the Recycling Center at the time the event starts. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as well as gloves and garbage bags for the cleanup.

• In Bedford County, The Department of Solid Waste will hold a special collection event for the purpose of collecting household hazardous waste. The event will allow Bedford County residents to recycle potentially dangerous items that are often stored and found while cleaning basements and garages. The materials will be collected from Bedford County residents at no charge. Some of the items that are accepted include alkaline batteries, pool cleaners, car batteries, pesticides, automotive fluids, and fluorescent light bulbs. The materials will be recycled. The event is 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Here are some of the events that will take place:

• From April 3 to May 17 the Jackson Center in Floyd County will showcase the The Earth Is Our Home exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery that paints the portrait of the issues the earth is facing today. The exhibit is full of portraits where artists expressed their care, concern, connection, and commitment to the Earth. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

new redbud trees will be planted along the Sundell Path, and then planting will commence for native• On April 25 many different groups in Radford will gather together on Wildwood Park to clean up the trash that gathers there. The event is noon to 5 p.m. Everyone will meet at the Radford Public Library. Also in Radford, in cooperation with the City of Radford, Pathways for Radford will host two tree planting activities on April 25. Six redbuds will be planted along Sundell Path and then the planting will commence of native shrubs for the birds and butterflies around the new restroom in Wildwood Park. The celebration will include activities and snacks at the Sundell/2nd Ave. Park-n-Ride and live music by Chris Burgoyne and Friends

• At Radford University the Green Team environmental club is hosting a series of clubs and events to inform the community of the environment. On April 19, volunteers are invited to meet at the Heth clock for a trash pick-up on campus. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. On April 22 from 3 to 6 p.m., RU’s sustainability coordinator will present information of ways to take environmentally friendly initiatives on the campus. There will also be a greenhouse and planetarium tour and the the tour will be offered every half hour with the last tour beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Greenhouse is located on the east side of Reed Hall and the Planetarium is on the ground floor of Curie Hall, room 43. There will also be a tree planting in Russell Hall at 3 p.m. From 3-6 p.m. there will be clubs and organizations that will set up tables on the Heth Lawn providing demonstrations relating to the environment. At 7 p.m. there will be an outdoor screening on the Heth Lawn with the acclaimed documentary called “The 11th Hour” which talks about the perilous state of our planet and how people in the world can change it. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be shown in McGuffey Hall in room 203.

Brian Seay is an intern for the New River Voice.

How do you plan to celebrate Earth Day? Let us know with your comments below.