Happy Earth Day from Knotty Pine

40th Anniversary Earth Day
Ranger Bill, Stumpy, Gray Wolf and Henry want to wish everyone a happy Earth Day weekend. This is the 40th anniversary weekend of the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. Bill suggests that you plant a tree, clean up a park area, or attend an Earth Day display as a part of this weekend.
Knotty Pine Display
A Knotty Pine's Earth Day celebration and display is in the Big Pine visitors center next to Ranger Headquarters. Ranger Rocky McGuire assembled the Big Pine display. She will be on hand at the Big Pine display from 10AM to 4PM Saturday and Sunday with brochures and fliers for the public. Rocky is showing how rangers protect Big Pine through pollution control, soil erosion work, and through carefully planned tree harvesting and planting.
First Earth Day
U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced his idea for a nationwide teach-in day on the environment in a speech to a fledgling conservation group in Seattle on 20 September 1969, and then again six days later in Atlantic City to a meeting of the United Auto Workers. Senator Nelson hoped that a grassroots outcry about environmental issues might prove to Washington, D.C. just how distressed Americans were in every constituency. Interest in an environmental day grew rapidly. Teach-ins were organized in many states. Congress was even closed that week in April 1970 so senators could speak at events planned for their states. The teach-in was a huge, overwhelming success. So were the many grassroots displays around the country.
Today over 140 countries celebrate an Earth Day or Earth Week.