- Millions globally will observe Earth Day on Wednesday, an annual event aimed at inspiring environmental activism for planetary preservation.
- The concept originated with US Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was moved by a 1969 offshore oil spill and proposed a national “teach-in” on environmental issues.
- The inaugural Earth Day took place on 22 April 1970, strategically timed to maximise student participation.
- The event significantly impacted US policy, leading to landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, and is considered the genesis of the modern environmental movement.
- Now a global phenomenon observed in over 192 countries, Earth Day has increasingly focused on climate change since 2000, with this year's campaign being “Our Power, Our Planet”.
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