GROWING AWARENESS The events brought together many people Some had already been calling attention to environmental problems These issues included industrial pollution toxic waste wildlife extinction and more But Earth Day also drew attention from many people who weren't aware of these things At that time industries created massive air and land pollution Many Americans considered these signs of success These things meant industry was booming But some people were becoming more aware of pollution's effects on nature THE IDEA Environmental harm prompted Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson to create Earth Day In 1969 he had seen the terrible effects of an oil spill in California Oil covered the wildlife that lived in Santa Barbara Harbor It kept birds from flying and sea otters from swimming The bodies of dead dolphins and seals Thousands flooded the streets in Philadelphia Pennsylvania for the first Earth Day
washed ashore Nelson wanted to take action He would combine protesting with the growing concern for nature He thought this might spur the environmental cause Nelson said Earth Day would be a teaching event Nelson did not plan the event alone California representative Pete PERSPECTIVES GAYLORD NELSON Gaylord Nelson worked for the Wilderness Society environmental group after being a senator President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 It's the greatest award a civilian can receive in the United States Nelson said in response There has been a sea change in the degree of environmentally educated people in our society They in the end will make the difference McCloskey joined him Denis Hayes helped bring the idea to life Hayes was a student at Harvard University He hired 85 people to advertise Earth Day events nationwide After Earth Day Nelson continued to support laws that protected nature in the Senate
