Earth Day: Then and Now

When the first issue of KC Parent was published in 1985, Earth Day was just 15 years old. Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, founded Earth Day in 1970 after witnessing the effects of a major oil spill off the coast of California the previous year. On April 22 that year, around 20 million Americans held rallies across the nation to protest issues such as oil spills, air pollution, toxic dumps and wildlife extinction.

This year, we celebrate the 45^th Earth Day and the 30^th birthday of KC Parent. So how has Earth Day changed over the years?

Then

            When Earth Day was created, a few doomsday predictions were made, including this one by Life magazine: “By 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half.”

            We know that prediction was erroneous, as were many others, but fear and concern set the first Earth Day into motion. By the mid-1980s, the initial enthusiasm and activism from the ’70s had diminished a bit. The movement was confined to the United States and focused on immediate issues such as dirty air, the ozone layer and toxic water.

            By the end of the 1980s, activists had expanded the meaning of "environment" to include things like asthma and architecture.

            In 1990, Earth Day was taken to the international stage, with events in 141 nations, and has continued to grow globally.

Now

The Earth Day Network estimates that one billion people worldwide honor Earth Day on or around April 22, and some communities make it a week-long event. The Earth Day Network continues to push for Earth Day to become more than just single-day actions, such as park cleanups and tree-planting parties, and encourages people to focus on long-term commitments.

How is Kansas City celebrating Earth Day 2015? Here are a few family events to consider:

• Deanna Rose Farmstead will have educational programs about recycling and composting, crafts, flower planting, a traditional Native American ceremony and more on April 18. OPKansas.org
• Powell Gardens will offer free admission and free tree seedlings on Earth Day (April 22) and will provide crafts, storytelling, tours, cooking demonstrations and more. PowellGardens.org
• StoneLion Puppet Theatre and St. Mark Child and Family Development Center will have a Puppets for the Planet Community Art Festival on April 11. Activities include puppet shows, hip hop dancing, face painting, exhibits by local environmental groups, make-and-take crafts with local artists, bounce house and more. StoneLionPuppets.org
• Gardner Parks and Recreation will celebrate on April 25 with an Earth Day/Arbor Day event and will have a group cleanup, a free barbecue lunch, tree planting demonstration, drawings and prizes. GardnerKansas.gov
• The Kansas City Zoo is having a “Party for the Planet” on April 11. Visitors will learn about conservation programs and activities to do at home, and high school artists will be painting live around the zoo. Face painting and more activities will also be available. KansasCityZoo.org
• Lakeside Nature Center will have a celebration on April 18 with a theme of “Wildlife in Swope Park.” The day’s activities include a show by the StoneLion Puppets, a make-and-take craft and information on Swope Park’s wildlife stars. LakesideNatureCenter.org

These are just a few of the many Earth Day events around our city during the month of April. Check the KC Parent calendar for more listings.

Tisha Foley and her family make daily efforts to live green from their home in Belton.