'A goal of clean air and water . . . and respect'

 

"Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures." - U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin

Today is Earth Day, the above noted “goal” of the Senator Nelson who envisioned that all Americans – and perhaps all people – would come together to protect the earth, air and water that we need to survive.

Just out of college, I was assigned to report on the first Earth Day in 1970.   My editor was skeptical that anything might happen but it soon became clear that people were organizing dozens and dozens of projects and I was on the front line reporting about them.

 By the 20th anniversary of Earth Day in 1990, I had met Sen. Nelson and invited him to be the Earth Day keynote speaker at the Minnesota college where I was working.  He chose our small school over dozens of other opportunities and spoke eloquently and passionately about his ongoing hope for our world.

 

 

Gaylord Nelson

“Earth Day achieved what I had hoped for and then some,” he told the students. “People were given the opportunity to demonstrate their deep concern about polluted air, rivers, lakes and oceans; health threatening hazardous waste; urban blight; pesticide and herbicide poisoning of people, plants, birds and animals; and the destruction of scenic beauty and wildlife habitats."

 

The author of several books, including Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise, Nelson said Earth Day became the first major opportunity to send a message to politicians "To wake up and do something.  We must recognize that we're all part of a web of life around the world.”