On 22 April 1970 some 20 million Americans, about a tenth of the population, took part in rallies, teach-ins and clean-ups on the first Earth Day, organised by Senator Gaylord Nelson and the activist Denis Hayes. The event followed an oil spill off Santa Barbara in 1969 and the burning of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. It pushed Congress to pass the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency was created that year. Earth Day is now observed worldwide, with more than a billion participants.
Before and after
- 18 February 1970Discovery of dubnium
- 5 March 1970Birth of Aleksandar Vučić
- 20 March 1970Founding of Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
- 11 April 1970Launch of Apollo 13
- 22 April 1970The first Earth Day
- 26 April 1970Birth of Melania Trump
- from 29 April 1970 to 22 July 1970Cambodian campaign
- 22 May 1970Avivim school bus massacre
- 21 June 1970Death of Sukarno
More in Society, economy & sport
- 24 October 1945Founding of United Nations Security Council
- 5 October 1948Founding of International Union for Conservation of Nature
- 5 May 1949Founding of Council of Europe
- 1952Founding of European Parliament
- 1985Introduction of new shekel
- 1990Rise of K-pop
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.