By Jane Lubchenco | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Forty years ago, the late Sen. Gaylord Nelson gave birth to Earth Day when he stood up for the environment, calling upon the American people to come together for a simple teach-in on the environment. The first Earth Day was a catalyst for change. It accelerated passage of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, as well as creation that same year of my agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Forty years after the first Earth Day , the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity – an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future.

Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability. Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day.

The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the spring equinox, which is often 20 March. This is a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. The United Nations Earth Day is similar to World Environment Day. Earth Day 2010 will be on 22 April.

The First Earth Day
U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced his idea for a nationwide teach-in day on the environment in a speech to a fledgling conservation group in Seattle on 20 September 1969, and then again six days later in Atlantic City to a meeting of the United Auto Workers. Senator Nelson hoped that a grassroots outcry about environmental issues might prove to Washington, D.C. just how distressed Americans were in every constituency. Denis Hayes was the principal organizer of the first Earth Day nationwide.

The Empire State and the Chrysler buildings in New York City, along with landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to Sydney harbor, went dark for an hour on Saturday to raise awareness over the fight against climate change.

After the white-shelled roof of the Sydney Opera House fell dark, after Taiwan's skyscrapers dimmed and Beijing's Forbidden City became, well, a little more forbidding - it was Moscow's turn to turn out the lights as Saturday's global Earth Hour event rolled around to Europe.

Millions of people worldwide were switching off lights and appliances for an hour from 8:30 p.m. in a gesture to highlight environmental concerns and to call for a binding pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This year's was the fourth annual Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund.

The president of the House of Representatives, Michel Temer, and the president of the Senate, José Sarney, both signed the pledge to EH.

Senator Marina Silva also pledged her support to Earth Hour 2010.

Antarctic research unit signs up to switch off ensuring lights go out across every continent
• More than 118 countries and regions to observe Earth Hour’s message of hope and action
• Google and UEFA join global action on climate change

China’s most significant historic landmark, the Forbidden City in Beijing, will turn off its lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm on Saturday March 27, in a dramatic display of action on global warming from the world’s most populous nation.

• 121 countries and territories across all seven continents to participate in global climate action
• Great Pyramids and Sphinx to lead Earth Hour’s landmark action on global warming
• Football superclub, Real Madrid, joins the greatest team ever assembled to tackle climate change
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu delivers an Earth Hour appeal to the planet

Tomorrow night at 8.30pm local time, the national government of Tuvalu will switch off power to the low-lying island nation, as one of the first countries to set in motion a 24-hour wave of hope and action on climate change that will sweep the world for Earth Hour.

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2010
Contacts: USC Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery
Keck School of Medicine at USC
2250 Alacazar St, CSC 240
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Maryam Gueramian, Young Professionals Committee Chair - Maryam@maryamgueramian.com

Great Thinkers Forum: A Global Collective for a Sustainable Planet at USC IGM Art Gallery Feb. 15

Global Peace Day Sept 21, 2009

We invite You to Mark, Create and Take a STAND Globally for PEACE. To Celebrate with us together FREELY & UNIQUELY as ONE VOICE in Your Own Way...