April is recognised as Earth Month by grassroots environmental organisations in countries around the world.  This month of environmental action began with the first Earth Day.  During the 1960’s U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson recognised the support for environmental policy existed on the grassroots level but was not being recognised.  In 1970 he hired Stanford graduate student Denis Hayes to organise a teach-in for environmental progress.  On April 22^nd 1970 thousands of colleges, universities, elementary and secondary schools participated in the first Earth Day.  The success of this event is often credited with the enacting of the Clean Air Act in that country the same year. 

The widespread popularity and political success of the event in the U.S.A. has caught the attention of Canadians and others around the world.  Over the years it has grown and transformed but it remains a grassroots community-driven day of action.  This year Earth Day will be observed by many Canadian organisations, schools, communities and businesses. 

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