Celebrate Earth Day, April 22nd
PUBLISHED: April 21, 2010
Earth Day is a celebration of the diversity and beauty of our planet. On this day we are reminded of the importance of protecting our environment and of cherishing our natural resources.
The 8th District includes parts of Lake, Cook and McHenry County and contained within the district are numerous forest preserves, nature sanctuaries, waterways and wildlife areas. The citizens of the 8th District have done a great deal to restore, protect and cherish their natural resources.
We are proud to share with you several local initiatives in the 8th District:
Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills
2009 Award Winner: The Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness
The award provides recognition for exemplary sites and projects within the Chicago Wilderness region which:
- Feature native landscaping;
- Demonstrate the principles and best practices of conservation-style development; and/or
- Restore ecosystems
Lake County Forest Preserve District
2007 Award Winner: 2007 Conservation Award sponsored by The Trust for Public Land and The National Association of Counties
The award recognizes leadership, innovation, and excellence on local land conservation and park creation initiatives by county leaders across America
The Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve
Spring Creek Valley encompasses 3,910 acres of forest preserve with such diverse ecosystems as prairies, wetlands, oak woodlands, savannas, shrublands and fens. This area also supports some of the largest and most diverse populations of grassland birds in the Midwest
Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve
http://www.habitatproject.org/projects/springcreek.html
Spring Creek Stewards
http://www.springcreekstewards.org/About.html
Accomplishments:
- Integrated the use of the preserves into the curriculum of Harper Community College and Elk Grove High School.
- Increased the number of rare grasslands birds; two vanished species have already returned
Flint Creek Watershed
http://www.flintcreekwatershed.org/
Flint Creek Watershed Partnership (FCWP) is a collaboration formed in 2005 by Barrington Area Development Council (BADC), Citizens for Conservation (CFC), the village of Barrington and Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) which now includes other local governments, non-profits and residents in the watershed.
Accomplishments:
- Since its inception in 2005, Flint Creek Watershed Partnership, has created a new Flint Creek Watershed-Based Plan for individual and community action to improve water quality, enhance natural resources and open space, and reduce flood risks.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
Why is Earth Day celebrated?
Earth Day is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
Who was the founder of Earth Day?
Former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson was the founder of Earth Day. He proposed the first environmental protest which was modeled after the Vietnam war protest events called "teach-in's".
How did Earth Day begin?
Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democrat from Wisconsin was the pioneer of the environmental movement. When elected to the Senate Senator Nelson was determined to wake up the federal government to the fact that the earth was at risk. He was inspired by the anti-Vietnam War ‘teach-ins' that were taking place on college campuses across the United States. Senator Nelson envisioned helping to organize a large scale environmental demonstration that would serve to thrust environmental issues onto the national agenda.
Nelson announced the Earth Day concept at a conference in Seattle in the fall of 1969 and invited the entire nation to get involved. The wire services carried the story across the nation and Americans responded in great numbers and with great enthusiasm. Dennis Hayes, a young activist who had served as student president at Stanford University, was selected as Earth Day's national coordinator. Hayes worked with a large group of student volunteers and several staff members from Nelson's Senate office to organize the project.
On April 22, rallies were held in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and "most other American cities," according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The event was successful at raising awareness about the environment and begin to shift the publics attitudes towards the importance of protecting the environment.
What was the impact of the first Earth Day?
The first Earth Day celebrated on April 22, 1969 "kicked off the environmental decade with a bang" according to Senator Nelson. A number of important pieces of environmental legislation were passed in the 1970s, including the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The Environmental Protection Agency was founded in December 1970 and was tasked with protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment-air, water and land.
Since 1970, Earth Day celebrations have continued to grow. In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in over 140 nations participating, according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), a nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities.
MILESTONES
Earth Day/Environmental Movement History Timeline
1854: Henry David Thoreau's Walden is published. It laments the rise of industrialization and the destruction of wilderness, and raises questions about humans' relationship to nature that influence naturalists and political activists more than 150 years later.
1872: A bill is passed by Congress and signed by President Grant to create the world's first national park at the headwaters of Yellowstone River in Montana and Wyoming.
1877: U.S. secretary of the interior Carl Schurz attempts to pass land-management laws that would slow the exploitation of public forests by the "timber barons". He fails.
1901-09: Theodore Roosevelt is the "conservation president." During his administration, more than 225 million acres of land become part of the U.S. Forest Service.
1962: Silent Spring by aquatic biologist Rachel Carson exposes the harm caused by insecticides such as DDT. The book leads to the development of safer insecticides and to a ban on the sale of DDT within the United States.
1963: Senator Nelson accompanies President John F. Kennedy on a speaking tour around the U.S. to raise awareness about environmental issues
1969: Chemical waste released into Cleveland's Cuyahoga River causes it to catch fire. The event becomes symbolic of how industrial pollution is damaging America's natural resources.
1969: Inspired by the "teach-ins" held by Vietnam War protestors on U.S. college campuses, Senator Gaylord Nelson announces the idea for Earth Day.
April 22, 1970: 20 million people participate in Earth Day activities around the U.S.
December 1970: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established by President Richard Nixon in order to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment- air, water and land.
1972: Congress passes the Clean Water Act, which limits pollutants in rivers, lakes and streams.
1973: Congress passes the Endangered Species Act to protect animals and their ecosystems.
1975: Congress passes legislation that sets standards for automobile tail-pipe emissions. As a result, automakers begin adding catalytic converters to cars.
1977: President Jimmy Carter signs the Clean Air Act Amendments to strengthen air quality standards and protect human health
1985: A team of British scientists led by Dr. Joe Farman reports that there is a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic
1990: The 20th anniversary Earth Day celebrations go global, with participants in over 140 countries.
1990: President George Bush signs the Pollution Prevention Act & the National Environmental Education Act
1992: EPA launches the Energy Star® Program to help consumers identify energy-efficient products
1995: Gaylord Nelson receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award given to a civilian, in honor of his environmental work.
1996: President Bill Clinton signs the Food Quality Protection Act to tighten standards for pesticides used to grow food, with special protections to ensure that foods are safe for children to eat
1997: Thirty-eight industrialized nations sign the Kyoto Protocol, agreeing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by about 5% over 15 years
2000: Hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day, with a focus on "clean energy."
July 3, 2005: Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson dies at age 89.
April 2007: Capacity crowds attend Green Apple Festival Earth Day events in New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. Earth Day Network members host 10,000 Earth Day events around the world.
2008 / 2009: Worldwide, involvement in Earth Day unites over 18,000 organizations in 186 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,400 groups and over 26,000 educators coordinating millions of environmental protection activities promoted during the entire year.
2009: Congress passes the American Clean Energy and Security Act (also known as the Cap and Trade Bill). It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and create 'green' jobs, by putting a limit on the amount of pollution large industrial industries can output.
LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
Help celebrate Earth Day by participating in events hosted by organizations right here in the 8th district.
Crystal Lake Park District - Community Clean Up Day
http://www.crystallakeparks.org
Date: 4/24/2010
Time: 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Throughout Crystal Lake
This event is co-sponsored by the Crystal Lake Park District and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. Take this opportunity to show the community you are a friend of the environment.
Lindenhurst Earth-Arbor Day
http://www.lindenhurstil.org
Date: 4/24/2010
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location:
Village Hall/Post Office
2301 E. Sand Lake Rd.
Lindenhurst , IL 60046
Schaumburg Park District - Spring Valley
Annual Backyards for Native Fair & Native Plant Sale
Date: 5/2/2010
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
Location:
Spring Valley
1111 E. Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL
College of Lake County
Earth Week Celebration
Date: Apr 17 - Apr 24 2010
Free admission
For more information call Kelly Cartwright at (847) 543-2792
Earth Week is a weeklong celebration at the Grayslake campus. The week's activities will include a volunteer workday at a Lake County Forest Preserve, a campus clean up, and many entertaining presentations.
McHenry County College, Lou Marchi Total Recycling Center
Annual Bedding Plant Sale - Horticulture Department
Date: 5/5/2010 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
5/6/2010 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For more information contact Betty Carmon at 815-455-8674 or email bcarmon@mchenry,edu
Location: McHenry County College - Building D - Greenhouse
Don't miss the Horticulture Department's annual bedding plant sale. Annuals, Perennials, Herbs, Vegetables, Hanging baskets, and Container Gardens are available at great prices. Come early for the best selection! All proceeds support the MCC Horticulture Department.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EARTH DAY
Illinois Resources:
Illinois
Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project
http://www.habitatproject.org/opportunity/restore.html
Illinois Nature Conservancy
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.state.il.us/
Illinois Environmental Council
http://www.ilenviro.org/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
http://dnr.state.il.us/
Kane County
Kane County Forest Preserve
http://www.kaneforest.com/volunteer/binspired.aspx
Lake County
Lake County Forest Preserve
http://www.lcfpd.org/involved/index.cfm?fuseaction=volunteer.view
Lake Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society
http://www.lakecookaudubon.org/Participate_on_Committees.html
Citizens for Conservation
http://www.citizensforconservation.org/
Liberty Prairie Conservancy
http://www.libertyprairie.org/waystohelp/volunteer.html
Cook County
Citizens for Conservation
http://www.citizensforconservation.org/
Deer Grove Natural Area Volunteers
http://deergrove.freehostia.com//
McHenry County
McHenry County Conservation District
http://www.mccdistrict.org/web/ge-volunteer.htm
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
http://www.conservemc.org/
Environmental Defenders of McHerny County
http://www.mcdef.org/connections.htm
National Resources:
US Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/
The Earth Day Network
http://www.earthday.net/?skip=1
The National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/index.htm
The Nature Conservancy
http://www.nature.org/
