Facts on Earth Day

It has been 38 years since the world has unitedly been celebrating Earth Day. And it would not be any different this year. But do you have the basic conception about this globally significant event? Check out a handful of facts on Earth Day. Here are bits of information that you, as a member of this planet, must know. Go through these important Earth Day facts and click here to let your friends know them too. Celebrate Earth Day with everyone you know!

Earth Day Facts

  • Coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, Earth Day is celebrated across the world in more than 175 countries.
  • More than 20 million US inhabitants had actually participated in the very first Earth Day.
  • The history of the Earth Day is deeply rooted in 1960s activism. People were not at all concerned about the environment during that period.
  • April 22nd was actually selected as it was the birthday of the founder of Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, according to a popular belief.
  • The role of San Francisco in celebrating Earth Day is notable. The city was actually named after Saint Francis, the patron saint of ecology.
  • According to the United Nations recommendation, April 22nd was recognized as the International Mother Earth Day in 2009.
  • The word of Earth Day is spreading on Facebook and other social networking sites like a virus and it’s estimated that by 2013, the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day, the Earth Day would be celebrated in more than 180 countries. More than 1 billion people would be participating in the celebrations.
  • According to an estimated statistics, approximately 200 million tons of topsoil will be lost from croplands through erosion.
  • To save 250,000,000 trees of the world, every newspaper of the world has to be recycled. But, it is believed that only 27% of all American Newspapers are recycled.
  • It is observed that 11% of the surface of the Earth is actually used to grow food.
  • According to the statistics of 2010, it is said that 38,010 of occupied housing units across US are heated using solar energy.
  • Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970 in Wisconsin. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended the inaugural event.
  • Earth Day was conceived by by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson./li>
  • Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date, with an estimated billion people participating in the proceedings.
  • Earth Day is observed twice annually. In the northern hemisphere it is held during spring, and during autumn in the southern hemisphere.
  • The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox. This tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969.
  • The tradition of celebrating Earth Day on April 22 was established by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970.
  • The "Ecology" Flag was created by cartoonist Ron Cobb. It was published for the first time in October 25, 1969.
  • Earth Day is now observed in 175 countries, and coordinated by the Earth Day Network, a nonprofit organization founded by the organizers of the first April 22 Earth Day in 1970.
  • In many cities, the Earth Day celebrations are extended to Earth Week, an entire week of activities related to the promotion of activities related to the preservation of Earth. The Earth Week usually start on April 16, and end on Earth Day, April 22nd.