This Day In History -- April 22nd

1970 : The first Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world's environmental problems, is celebrated in the United States for the first time. Millions of Americans, including students from thousands of colleges and universities, participated in rallies, marches, and educational programs.Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, astaunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grass roots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. "The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishmentout of its lethargy," Senator Nelson said, "and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda." Earth Dayindeed increased environmental awareness in America, and in July ofthat year the Environmental Protection Agency was established byspecial executive order to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation.On April 22, 1990, the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.Earth Day has been celebrated on different days by different groups internationally. The United Nations officially celebrates it on thevernal equinox, which usually occurs about March 21.