Calling all environmentalists! Earth Day 2017 is held today, Saturday, April 22. In Raleigh and across the world, people are celebrating and advocating for environmental protection. Since its creation in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, 193 countries across the globe celebrate Earth Day annually.

 The history of Earth Day is a bit more complex than most would think. Since the 1960s and 1970s were filled with the Civil Rights Movement, followed by anti-war protests led by students, the creation of Earth Day was inspired by such events. Senator Nelson began to push for national “teach-ins” for environmental awareness. Much like the sit-ins led during the previous decade for racial equality, the teach-ins sought out change on a national scale. The date chosen for the national teach-in day was April 22, which fell between the students’ Spring Break and final exams. Since then, Earth Day has progressed into environmental protests, marches, educational hearings and speeches, festivals, and parades across the world.

 On a global scale today, environmentalists hold events, parades, speeches, and festivals to celebrate a day dedicated to our planetary home. In Washington, DC, as well as downtown Raleigh, a March for Science is being held on Earth Day to promote research and field-testing to move towards a global restoration of our environment.

 Locally, in Raleigh, there are events being held to promote environmental well-being, too. Today, April 22, there was a TEDx talk held at the Lincoln Theatre downtown where 8 speakers and 3 performers discussed topics such as the Raleigh City Council, birds of prey, private land conservation, neuroscience bias, and NC ecology. Performances included visual art and a jazz show. One of the significant requests by the TEDx talk was for individuals to bring their own reusable water bottle because the talk would not be providing plastic bottles. By doing this, the TEDx was choosing not to put more plastic into the already overflowing waste stream. As the day comes to a close, there is a nature hike at Dorothea Dix Park from 8:00pm to 9:00. This is a free tour through the park to see various landscapes, habitats, and the stars. Back on the Millbrook campus, Millbrook Matters strives to keep our environment clean not only on Earth Day, but every day. Next Saturday, there is an opportunity for the Millbrook community to come out to help beautify our campus, so come out and show your love for our school and the environment!

 Whether it be by attending a national march for the environment or just hugging a tree, contributions to Earth Day come in all shapes and sizes. Senior Rachel Scott said, “People can make an effort to help our Earth by obviously not trashing it. I saw the janitor out in the parking lot the other day picking up an insane amount of trash, and it was pitiful. Take adventures outside and see how beautiful your world really is because I feel like so many people take advantage of what we live in; if they go outside and actually take in everything it will be an amazing experience.” If you want to take action this Earth Day, visit http://www.earthday.org/take-action/ to find local and national ways to help your Earth.