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Earth Day- 40 years and counting

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Big blue marble, blue planet, Gaia, terra firma, terrestrial sphere, world- these are some of the words we use to describe Earth.

On April 22 we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which was first initiated on April 22, 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson.

Earth Day 1990, National Mall Washington DC
LC Science Librarians at Earth Day 1990, National Mall Washington DC

Back in 1990, in celebration of 20 years of Earth Day, the Library’s science reference staff compiled an Earth Decade Reading List . This guide and similar material, was distributed at the 20th anniversary celebration on the National Mall (see picture). Our reference staff also planted a tree that day!

The Earth Decade Reading List contains titles by and about precursors and founders of the environmental movement, as well as classic publications on environmental issues.

20 years later, science reference staff is still creating publications related to environmental issues such as Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Combustion Processes , Green Roofs , Solar Ovens and Cooking and Sustainable Agriculture .  For teachers and students we have a guide for Environmental Science Fair Projects.

To make it easier for the reader, we have organized and selected some of the Library’s environmentally themed guides, events, and the like into an Earth Day Guide .

Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson sums up the meaning of this day:

“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.” Earth Day Speech Notes by Nelson in Denver, April 22, 1970

Comments (4)

  1. it is nice to celebration of of Earth Day.
    it is our duty to protect and save our earth.

  2. Let’s rescue a planet together.

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