The Equinoctial Earth Day

Earth Day is a holiday designed to raise awareness of environmental problems and foster an appreciation for the Earth and the natural environment. The United States government defines the holiday as a time to celebrate gains, create new visions, and accelerate progress for environmental change.
Earth Day is held yearly in the spring in the northern hemisphere (fall in the southern hemisphere.) Although April 22nd is the much publicized date of the holiday, the day is actually the second Earth Day, founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. Today, the holiday is celebrated by many countries worldwide on April 22. The first Earth Day on the March equinox (March 21) was established in 1969 by peace activist John McConnell. Today, that holiday is celebrated on the March equinox primarily by the United Nations.

History of Earth Day

The Equinoctial Earth Day

The equinoctial Earth Day was first introduced by John McConnell at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment in San Francisco, California in 1969. McConnell’s proposal for this global holiday was created to celebrate life on Earth but also to make people aware of the need to preserve the environment and protect the various ecosystems life depends on.
In September 1969, McConnell proposed his idea to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and on March 21, 1970, San Francisco mayor Joseph Alioto issued the first Earth Day proclamation. Following this proclamation, San Francisco and many other cities began having Earth Day celebrations.Earth Day is one of two observances, both held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere. These are intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox, a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. A second Earth Day, which was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in...