Gaylord Nelson
Senator Gaylord Nelson was the founder of Earth Day. He came up with this idea after he witnessed the destruction caused by the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He wanted to raise public awareness about air and water pollution. He believed that if he could educate people of how their rights to clean air, clean water, uncontaminated food, open spaces, etc. were being violated, they would start demanding laws to protect these rights. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995.
"In 1969 Nelson came up with an idea that would become his lasting legacy. Borrowing a tactic of the anti-Vietnam war protests, the teach-in, Nelson suggested a full day dedicated to teaching and learning about the environment. Nelson believed that if people only knew more about the environment, they would demand better protection. His efforts led to the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970."(wisconsinhistory.org, 2013)
"It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder."(Earth Day Network, 2013)
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"Earth Day 1970 Part 2: Gaylord Nelson's Speach(CBS News with Walter Cronkite)" (earthweek1970, 2010)
"Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land."(Earth Day Network, 2013)