'The New Mexican' celebrates Earth Day with debut of environment newsletter
There's been 4.5 billion years of Earth. But there's only been a day to celebrate it for 55 years.
Welcome to the first edition of 'Earth, Wind and Fire,' The Santa Fe New Mexican's weekly environment newsletter. Today marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, which was proposed by Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson in the wake of a devastating oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Twenty million Americans participated in Earth Day at the time. Santa Feans were aware and concerned; responses to a 1970 survey found that 80% of City Different residents were worried about pollution in general, although just a little over half felt Santa Fe or their children were particularly impacted.
In 1971, Leah Harvey Junior High students urging stronger laws to curb pollution had a grim message: 'See you 25 years from now wearing a gas mask.'
The gas masks are still in the closet. This year's Earth Day falls after the death of Pope Francis, who in 2015 published the encyclical letter Laudato Si', which urged international action to protect our "common home," Earth.
Although some environmental advocates paint a grim picture on Earth Day 2025, hope for a new generation remains.
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