EARTH DAY 2024: How and where you can celebrate

Simone Gibson
·2 min read
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Earth Day is coming up on April 22 and WRBL gathered information to help you learn more about the annual celebration and how to participate.

Earth Day is celebrated annually and has been for the past 54 years. Earth Day recognizes the importance of maintaining the environment and often focuses on group efforts, like LaGrange’s monthly liter cleanups to keep our environment clean. One Senator understood how invaluable our planet is and created the celebration.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 according to the National Geographic Society after Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson became inspired by environmental activism in the 1960s.

With help from a Harvard University graduate student, Denis Hayes, Nelson orchestrated the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970; the event was successful enough to cause more support for legislation aimed at protecting the environment such as the Clean Air Act which was updated in 1970 and the Endangered Species Act which was passed in 1973.

How can I participate?

There are multiple ways individuals can take part in celebrating Earth Day. EarthDay.org, an international non-profit advocating for the environmental movement provides easy ways people can get involved:

  • Help plant a forest in your community

  • Join a cleanup group

  • Advocate for climate action at your school or college

  • Refrain from purchasing from fast fashion brands

  • Making some meals plant-based

LIST: Local Earth Day Events

For anyone interested in participating in local events in the West Georgia and East Alabama area, here is a list of upcoming Earth Day events:

Columbus –

Auburn –

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