“The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity… that’s all there is. That’s the whole economy.”
~Senator Gaylord Nelson
Mississippi Outreach Assistant, Mark “River” Peoples, leads a group on the River; Photo Credit: John Ruskey
On April 22, 1970, the United States celebrated its first Earth Day. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin sparked the idea when he became disheartened with the slow response of elected officials to growing environmental problems. Because the nation’s citizens were already organizing to combat rampant air, water, and land pollution, which were having profound effects on humans and nature, he decided to focus his efforts rallying the people.
Senator Gaylord Nelson with William K. Reilly on Earth Day 1990
And the response was huge. In fact, more than twenty million citizens, from teachers, students and laborers, to farmers, mothers and scientists, united to make a statement to elected officials: It was time for change. And in many ways their voices were heard. Congress passed many laws in the following years that helped to clean up smoggy cities, poisoned land and contaminated waterways.
While the environment and human health have improved in many ways since the first Earth Day, there is still much work to be done. And the Mississippi River, one of our nation’s most valued treasures, needs our help. Fertilizer runoff from farming practices and the use of lawn and garden fertilizers that contain phosphorus and nitrogen have created the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The Dead Zone—an area the size of Connecticut that is deprived of oxygen due to nutrient pollution —wreaks havoc on ecosystems and threatens the fishing and tourism industries. Please visit our website to learn more about the Dead Zone and what you can do to help.
While these problems are troubling, with your help, there is hope. River Citizens can make simple changes in our lives to stand up for the Mississippi River. One way to get involved is to volunteer for the River. We can do this by participating in the many Earth Day cleanups, tree plantings or restoration events that are happening across the ten-state Mississippi River region. In Dubuque, IA, the Port of Dubuque cleanup is happening on Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. If you live near Minneapolis, you can participate in the city’s annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m. Interested in wildflower and sedge planting? Join a volunteer Confluence Conservation Crew at Jones-Confluence State Park (West Alton, IL) on April 30, starting at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. To find out about events in your area, please visit our website at www.1mississippi.org/events.
Illinois/Missouri Outreach Assistant, Tanner Aljets, participates in a Mississippi River cleanup
Finally, River Citizens can help the River by spreading the word about the Mississippi River and 1 Mississippi campaign. Invite friends to hike trails along the Mississippi River or take them out on the River in a canoe. Please also forward our newsletter, join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter and encourage others to participate in the movement by signing up to become a River Citizen at 1mississippi.org.
Happy 46th Earth Day, River Citizens! And thank you for all that you do to help and protect the Mississippi River.
Brooke Thurau
1 Mississippi Campaign Coordinator