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Earth Day 2008
The first Earth Day occurred 38 years ago, on April 22, 1970. On that day, twenty million Americans peacefully demonstrated in support of a common goal: their commitment to a healthy environment and opposition to the continued pollution of our small planet. That was a time when rivers caught on fire, open dumps and pits were common, and black smoke dominated the skyline. The political activism of the first Earth Day participants resulted in formation of the Environmental Protection Agency and enactment of virtually every major environmental law, including the Clean Air and Water Acts and the National Environmental Policy Act.
In the intervening years, tremendous advancement in the field of environmental pollution control has occurred, and environmental values, in significant ways, have become mainstream values. With each new Earth Day, we have the opportunity to reflect on the progress we've made, and to think about the challenges that lie ahead. So Earth Day is a celebration, and also a reminder that while we all have a right to enjoy the Earth's resources, we also have a responsibility to protect them.
- Steven E. Chester, Director, DEQ
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