About Earth Day

In spring of 1970, public concern about the deterioration of Earth's environment sparked the proclamation and celebration of a new worldwide holiday — Earth Day! Over 20 million people marked the event with protests demanding measures to protect the environment.

"May there only be peaceful and cheerful Earth Days to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circle in frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo of animate life."
• UN Secretary-General, U Thant
  (Proclamation, February 26, 1971)

Today, a half billion people in 174 countries all over the world celebrate Earth Day to promote global environmental awareness and protect our planet's vital resources.