Earth Day Then & Now
April 22nd
1970-1990-2010
Earth Day was founded by grass roots groups and policy makers, forty years ago, in response to the environmental problems of the 60s. Proclaimed as a day to nurture neighbor and nature the first, less heard of, Earth Day took place on the first day of spring, March 20, 1970. Later the United Nations sanctioned that the first day of spring be recognized as Earth Day. To this day, each year, the tradition continues and the peace bell rings at the first moment of spring.
The second and most recognized Earth Day took place across America on April 22nd in 1970. Organized by grass roots volunteers and supported by government agencies, an estimated 20 million Americans gathered for rallies, teach-ins, speeches, and publicity gimmicks. To countless articipants, that first Earth Day was a turning point in their lives, which they remember to this day with awe and reverence.
In 1990, twenty years later, still focused on solutions and to preserve and protect the environment, the Earth Day movement went global. Locally, members of the grass roots community worked under the umbrella of ECOSLO as the Earth Day Coalition to create the first Earth Day event in San Luis Obispo County.
Realizing that coordinating an annual Earth Day event requires its own dedicated energy, fund-raising and outreach, in 1999 the group applied for nonprofit status under the name of the Earth Day Alliance, Inc. Its main mission is to coordinate an annual Earth Day event in San Luis Obispo County and in doing so connect and create alliances in the environmental movement and bring environmental education to the community by creating or participating in events.
Learn more about Earth Day SLO 2010 by visiting the www.earthdayalliance.com. Feel free to call the Earth Day Alliance, Inc. at (805) 544-8529 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .