Have you had “buy citrus tree” or “plant citrus” tree on your to-do or bucket list? How about taking the plunge this Earth Day?
On April 22, millions of Americans and people from all over the world will take time to honor and celebrate planet Earth. They’ll plant trees, dedicate parks, clean up rivers, take public transportation and participate in hundreds of other activities that heighten awareness of environmental issues. Earth Day is a time to reflect on our planet’s fragility, resilience, and recovery. It’s a unifying event that brings people together, no matter their age, race, nationality, or political agenda. The thread that binds them is their desire to respect, honor and protect the planet.
How Earth Day Got Its Start
Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin, who in 1962 was concerned that “the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country.”
“All across the country,” he wrote, “evidence of environmental degradation was appearing everywhere, and everyone noticed except the political establishment. The people were concerned, but the politicians were not.” In 1963, he persuaded President Kennedy to take a national conservation tour. While it did little to bring the issue to the forefront, it did become the seed of what was to become Earth Day.
Overwhelming Response
Through the ‘60s, Nelson continued to speak on environmental issues. While on a conservation speaking tour in 1969, he saw how non-violent protests called “teach-ins” were effectively used on college campuses to protest the war in Vietnam. He believed this grassroots approach would work well to heighten public awareness of environmental issues. Nelson announced that in the spring of 1970, there would be a nationwide “demonstration” on behalf of the environment.
“The response was electric,” Nelson said. “Inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air.” The country was ripe for such a demonstration, as evidenced by the participation of two thousand colleges and universities, ten thousand high schools and grade schools, and thousands of communities. In all, 20 million Americans participated in that first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
From Activism to Acts
This was the beginning of the environmental movement in the United States. That same year saw the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1980, multiple environmental acts became law: the Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, among many others. What started as a grassroots effort is now an international event celebrated by billions of people from around the planet. Until his death in 2005 at the age of 89, Nelson remained dedicated to improving and protecting the environment.
How You Can Get Involved
Want to know what activities are planned for Earth Day in your community? Contact the mayor’s office, city hall, newspapers, radio and TV stations, children’s and science museums, colleges and universities, and non-profit environmental groups. You may not find a “teach-in,” but you’re sure to find an activity you and your family can participate in to show your concern for the planet.
Don’t have time to attend an event? Check out citrus trees for sale that you can plant for yourself or someone else as a way to celebrate Earth Day!
Plant a Tree!
Why plant a tree for Earth Day? Trees aren’t just beautiful to look at – they’re beneficial to the environment, too. You probably already know that trees help produce oxygen and absorb carbon monoxide, filtering out pollutants and thus cleaning the air we breathe. Did you know they also help preserve water levels in the soil, meaning you won’t have to water your landscape quite so often? That’s another way to help save the planet!
Plus, trees add so much more to our landscape. Not only do they add beauty, but they also add shade that, when provided to your home, can help reduce energy costs. And if you plant fruit trees (like the Improved Meyer Lemon Trees for sale on Citrus.com), they also provide delicious fruit you can enjoy season after season for years to come – fruit that you can even share with friends and neighbors. Don’t have much space in your yard to plant more than one tree? Among the citrus trees online at Citrus.com, you can find a lemon lime tree for sale, a space-saving option that lets you enjoy more than one fruit on the same tree!
