Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and has been growing strong ever since. Here’s a look back at our Earth Day roots.
20 Million: Number of people who celebrated the first Earth Day
200 Million: Number of people who celebrated Earth Day in 1990
500 Million: Number of people who celebrated Earth Day in 2000
175: Number of countries worldwide that celebrate a designated Earth Day
4,390,000: Number of Google hits for Earth Day
37,100,000: Number of Google hits for Green Day
On many school calendars, it is the third most activity-inspiring holiday, after Christmas and Halloween.
Earth Day was founded by a senator of Wisconsin and the day is credited for creating the environmentalism movement.
April 22 is the first official day of Spring in the Northern hemisphere and of Fall in the Southern hemisphere and was chosen to be Earth Day for this reason.
A highlight of the annual Earth Day ceremony at the United Nations is the ringing of the Peace Bell that was given to the UN by Japan. It is made from coins given by school children to further peace on our planet.
The department's 15th annual Earth Day celebration will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at the Missouri State Capitol south lawn.
The Department of Natural Resources sponsors and hosts the event at the Capitol each year.
Activities include information booths, games and displays about the environment. Many other state and federal agencies participate through educational displays and exhibits.
Activities for the event are tailored to fifth-graders, but all ages are welcome.
The department’s Earth Day celebration is targeted towards students but the event is also open to the general public.
Approximately 10 other state and federal agencies are expected to participate.
2009 registrations are ongoing.
Sources:
http://www.plentymag.com/features/2008/04/by_the_numbers.phphttp://www.parents.com/fun/parties/special-occasions/fun-facts-about-earth-day/
http://www.yumsugar.com/219708
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday/facts.htm
On a side note: According to my crazy calender, April 22 is also Admministraative Proofesionals Day. All I can say about this is, "How lame!" Who wants to celebrate having administrative professionals in our lives? It's like saying, "Thank yoou for putting up so much red tape for us to go through every daain our lives. We just love thse restrictions!" Also, they had to put on the same day as another holiday? Couldn't they have moved it to April 21 where nothing was going on? Going green is better than Administrators going black and white! And last time I checked, There are lot better holidays than A.P. Day. Like on August 31, it's National Trail Mix Day. And on January 13, it's International Skeptics Day. Beat that Administrative Professionals.
There also are two other holidays on April 22. They are Girl Scout Leader Day and National Jelly Bean Day. Still much better than Administrative Professionals (a.k.a. "Secretaries").
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