Earth Day began as a nationwide event that grew into a global movement in the last 44 years. This year, celebrate past environmental achievements and become a part of future ones.

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Earth Day by the numbers

20: Government acts related to the environment
44: Years Earth Day has been celebrated
192: Countries that participate in Earth Day More than 2 million: Copies of “Silent Spring” sold worldwide
20 million: Americans who participated in the first Earth Day
1 billion: Estimated participants in Earth Day this year

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The environmental movement through the decades

1962: Rachel Carson writes “Silent Spring,” advocating against the use of pesticides 1963: Congress passes the first version of the Clean Air Act on Dec. 17
1968: The first U.N. Biosphere Conference meets to discuss global environmental problems
April 22, 1970: First Earth Day
Dec. 2, 1970: Congress authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency
1971: Environmentalist group Greenpeace is formed
1972: Congress passes the Clean Water Act
1973: Endangered Species Act is created
1977: The Department of Energy is created under President Jimmy Carter in August
1985: Scientists discover a hole in the Earth’s ozone layer
1986: Global ban on whaling goes into effect
1989: The Exxon Valdez oil tanker spills 260,000 to 750,000 barrels of oil in Prince William Sound
1997: The Kyoto Protocol is adopted by the U.N. demanding reduced greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized countries
2001: President Bill Clinton declares 58 million acres of national forests to be off-limits to logging and road building
2004: The EU issues its first pollution register with information for the public about industrial emissions
2006: Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” is released
2009: EPA declares CO2 emissions a threat to human health

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Songs of the Earth

Songs with environmental messages hit their peak popularity in the1970s, but in every recent decade, environmentally minded singers and songwriters have pushed their messages through song. Their songs reveal the general public’s feelings about the environment as well as the government’s involvement – or lack of it – in environmental issues. The DePaulia put together an Earth Day playlist to listen to on April 22 that reveals the recent history of the “green” movement through songs and lyrics.

“Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell (1970) 
“That’s the Way” by Led Zeppelin (1970)
“Apeman” by The Kinks (1970)
“Mercy, Mercy Me” by Marvin Gaye (1971)
“Don’t Go Near the Water” by The Beach Boys (1971)
“Garden Song” by Pete Seeger (1975)
“The Prophet’s Song” by Queen (1975)
“Nobody’s Fault” by Aerosmith (1976)
“Green Heaven” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
“Beds Are Burning” by Midnight Oil (1987)
“Earth Song” by Michael Jackson (1995)
“Too Much” by Dave Matthews Band (1996)
“Idioteque” by Radiohead (2000)
“The Horizon Has Been Defeated” by Jack Johnson (2003)
“Down to Earth” by Peter Gabriel (2008)
“Earth” by Imogen Heap (2009)
“Eyes Wide Open” by Gotye (2010)

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Celebrate Earth Week at DePaul April 21-25 

THE ORGANIC GARDENER – APRIL 21

Learn how to grow a successful organic vegetable garden from guest speaker Jeanne Nolan, founder of Organic Gardener Ltd. McGowan South 108, 7 to 9 p.m.

PLANTING WORKSHOP – April 21

Head to the Ray to learn about how to plant wheat grass and alfalfa sprouts in your urban garden. Ray Meyer Fitness Center 135, 4 to 6 p.m. COLEMAN CONNECTION:

FOOD ENTREPRENEURS – April 22

Discuss “green” food initiatives with Chicago entrepreneurs who have “green” businesses. Lincoln Park Student Center 314A, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

BLUE ECOLOGIES: SCIENCE, AESTHETICS AND THE CREATURES OF THE ABYSS – April 22

Author and English professor at the University of Texas at Arlington Stacy Alaimo discusses her book about ocean ecologies. McGowan South 105, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

DINNER ON DEPAUL: ENVIRONMENTALISM AND SUSTAINABILITY – April 23

Enjoy a free dinner and discussion with DePaul alumni who work in environmentalism and sustainability. 6 to 8 p.m. Contact John Palmares at [email protected] to RSVP.

GREEN FIRE: ALDO LEOPOLD AND A LAND OF ETHIC FOR OUR TIME -April 24

Attend a screening of the documentary Green Fire about environmentalist Aldo Leopold made by DePaul alumnus Curt Meine. McGowan South 204, 5 to 9 p.m. 

FAIR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW – April 24

Take part in Fashion Revolution, an organization that encourages people to find out where their clothes come from and how they are made. Lincoln Park Student Center 314A, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

EARTH WEEK FESTIVAL – April 25

Meet local business owners who use sustainable practices in their businesses. Take advantage of free food and drinks and a raffle where you can win sustainable prizes. Quad, 12 to 2 p.m.

SPRING CLEANING – April 25

Bring your used or unwanted electronics to be disposed of safely. Welcome Center Parking Lot, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.