a may not know that Earth Day was t...

a may not know that Earth Day was the idea of former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson The remarkably first Earth Day, held April 22 1970 drew 20 million tribe -- what was then 10 percent of the entire U population. As Nelson said in 1995 (in commemoration of Earth Day's 25th anniversary), what race were trying to accomplish was to have a national demonstration of environmental transaction big enough to shake up the political establishment -- commit to memory its attention, get some action, [and to] force environmental issues onto the political agenda of national priorities." It worked.

Since 1970 Congres has enacted through 40 major Federal environmental laws addressing a great many issues, including clean air, clean water, efficacy conservation, hazardous waste, pesticides, and more. And the annual termination now brings together 200 million family in 141 countries around the globe. National Earth Day is officially observ in succession April 22nd.

* Earth Day Network, PO case 9827, San Diego, CA 92169; phone: 619-496-3361 or 619-272-7423

* Earth Day Resources; phone: 800-727-8619

Arbor Day

If you travel to Nebraska today, it won't be readily apparent that the state was one time a treeless plain. It was, interestingly enough, this surpassingly lack of trees which l Detroit-born J Sterling Morton to mean the founding of Arbor Day in the 1800 (1872 to be precise).

What is Arbor Day? It is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree-planting and tree care. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in the state of Nebraska in succession April 10, 1872, in replication to a state proclamation urging colonists and homesteaders in that prairie state to plant tres that would propose shade, shelter, fruit, fuel and beauty for dwellers of what was a largely treeles landscape. in succession that first Arbor Day, more than single in kind million trees were planted in Nebraska's communities and upon its farms. Although the National Arbor Day is observ onward the last Friday in April (April 25 this year), earlier or later observance be founds depending on each state and best treeplanting dates. Dedicated not sole to treeplanting but also to overall environmental stewardship, today Arbor Day celebrations are also held in many other countries.

Readers may wish to know that the National Arbor Day Foundation is giving away 10 unrestrained Colorado Blue Spruce trees to each bodily substance who joins the foundation. To become a member (and receive the 10 clear six-to-twelve-inch baby trees), "send a $10 membership contribution to: `Ten livid Spruces,' National Arbor Foundation," to the address below.

J Sterling Morton captured the spirit of "his holiday" best: "Each generation takes Earth as trustess. We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed"

* The National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410; phone: 402-474-5655

There are, of course, a great number of superior environmental organizations which do not have a holiday commemorating them. Here are just a small in number of them.

Sierra Club

In the spring of 1892 a assign places to of over 180 people l from conservationist John Muir founded the Sierra association The club describes it this way: "They shared a passion for wild places. They knew that none of them, acting alone, could save these endangered treasures. They danceed that together they could keep America's vast natural heritage -- not just for themselves, on the contrary as a legacy to to come generations. Their hope was rewarded. The Sierra unite in a club enabled them to explore, take pleasure in and protect the Earth, and it helped translate their interest into concrete, effective action."

With membership probably approaching a half million, its motto is: "Protect America's Environment: For Our Families, For Our Future"

* Sierra form a club 85 Second Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441; phone: 415-977-5500 fax: 415-977-5799

a certain quantity of other fine environmental organizations are: Earthwatch (800-776-0188); Environmental Defense foundation (202-387-3500); Greenpeace USA (202-462-2277 or 800-326-0959); The National Audubon Society (212-979-3000); Natural Resources Defense Council (212-727-2700); The Nature Conservancy (703-841-5300 or 800-647-5463); and the Worldwatch Institute (202-452-1999)

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