For over 50 years, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22. The idea of Earth Day was brought up in 1969 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson when he saw the oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA. In 1970, Nelson called upon all Americans to take a stand and protest for a healthy planet. They protested against air pollution caused by factories and freeways. They also spoke out about animal extinction and the loss of animal habitats. The first Earth Day helped create the United States Environmental Protection Agency and several others. Unfortunately, pollution progressed and became even worse from the issues from over 50 years ago. We are currently facing an increase in natural disasters, extreme weather, and a rise in global temperature. Our ocean is severely littered with trash everyone leaves behind, causing the deaths of thousands of animals. Some things you can do to help and support Earth Day are the following: reduce the amount you drive, practice the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), pick up any trash you see, and join organizations that support this cause.