Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Earth Day Event Reinforces Importance of Environmental Protection
Opinion
By Opinion
Published 2 years ago on
April 21, 2023

Share

I grew up in the 70’s with Woodsy Owl saying  “Give a Hoot Don’t Pollute,” the crying “Indian” public service announcements and Smokey the Bear cavorting with Disney animals to tell us that only we could prevent wildfires.  I had no idea that such “environmentalist” messages were kind of a new thing at the time.  I also did not know that prior to the 1970s there were minimal legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect the environment.

Opinion

Andrea De Zubiria


Earth Day Fresno will take place at Fresno City College on Saturday from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. 


Imagine a time when there was no Environmental Protection Act, no Clean Air Act and no Clean Water Act.   Factories were free to spew pollutants into the air, urban water supplies were being contaminated with impunity, hardly any Americans had heard of recycling and the pesticide DDT (along with lax hunting laws)  almost wiped out the Bald Eagle. 

But in 1962, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, about the indiscriminate use of pesticides, brought attention to the interdependence of humans and nature.  Then some dramatic disasters like a giant oil spill around Santa Barbara and a contaminated river that burst into flames near Cleveland, heightened Americans’ awareness of our effect on the air and water that we depend on.  

In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. He called on students to fight for environmental causes with the same energy that they displayed in opposing the Vietnam War. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended the inaugural events across the country, mainly at schools and universities, including at Fresno State. 

 As a result of heightened public concern, Republican President Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970. According to the EPA, he presented the House and Senate “a groundbreaking 37-point message on the environment.”  These points included:

  • requesting four billion dollars for the improvement of water treatment facilities;
  • asking for national air quality standards and stringent guidelines to lower motor vehicle emissions;
  • launching federally-funded research to reduce automobile pollution;
  • ordering a clean-up of federal facilities that had fouled air and water;
  • seeking legislation to end the dumping of wastes into the Great Lakes;
  • proposing a tax on lead additives in gasoline;
  • forwarding to Congress a plan to tighten safeguards on the seaborne transportation of oil; and
  • approving a National Contingency Plan for the treatment of oil spills.

Earth Day Event at Fresno City College

Back in 1970,  April 22 was chosen for Earth Day because it was between spring break and midterms, which would make it easier for students to participate.  So it is fitting that this year, Earth Day Fresno will occur on the campus of Fresno City College on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.   This is a free family-friendly event sponsored by the Environmental Collaborative of Central California and the Division of Math, Science and Engineering at Fresno City College. 

There will be live entertainment and educational booths. Citizens’ Climate Lobby Fresno will be there with opportunities to tell your members of Congress to support legislation that lowers greenhouse gases in our atmosphere like promoting healthy forests, urban trees, electrification and carbon pricing.  A yard sale at CCLF’s  booth will raise funds to send area young people to attend a conference and meet with our members of Congress in DC.  You can visit with other Earth Day Fresno participants like The Central Valley Young Environmental Advocates and learn about the critical work of the Valley Air District.  There will also be vendors, food trucks, electric vehicle test drives, a bike clinic, kids activities and more. 

About the Author

Andrea De Zubiria works in healthcare and is the group leader for the Fresno Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.  Citizens’ Climate Lobby Fresno is a non-partisan, non-profit that trains citizen volunteers to help pass legislation that supports climate change solutions. She can be reached at fresno@citizensclimatelobby.org

Make Your Voice Heard

GV Wire encourages vigorous debate from people and organizations on local, state, and national issues. Submit your op-ed to rreed@gvwire.com for consideration. 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

DON'T MISS

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

DON'T MISS

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

DON'T MISS

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

DON'T MISS

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

DON'T MISS

Madera Authorities Warn About Fake Letters Circulating in Ranchos Community

DON'T MISS

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

DON'T MISS

Fresno DUI Crash Kills 2, Police Name Suspect

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Will Change the Name of the Gulf of Mexico

UP NEXT

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

UP NEXT

Fresno DUI Crash Kills 2, Police Name Suspect

UP NEXT

If CA Wants to Lead on AI, It Can’t Let 3 Companies Hog the Infrastructure

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Eric Wilson

UP NEXT

Tulare County Files Its First Felony Cases Under Prop 36

UP NEXT

US Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, Who Prosecuted Bitwise Founders, Resigns

UP NEXT

Even MAGA Needs Immigrants, It Seems

UP NEXT

Fresno State Adds a Sackmaster and Safety from Transfer Portal

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Report 2024 Violent Crime Drop, Homicides Fall to 30

UP NEXT

Biden Vetoes Bill to Add More Fresno Judges. Will Trump Come to the Rescue?

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

2 hours ago

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

3 hours ago

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

3 hours ago

Madera Authorities Warn About Fake Letters Circulating in Ranchos Community

3 hours ago

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

4 hours ago

Fresno DUI Crash Kills 2, Police Name Suspect

4 hours ago

Trump Says He Will Change the Name of the Gulf of Mexico

5 hours ago

California Businesses Sue State Over New Workplace Law

5 hours ago

San Diego State University Frat Members Charged After Pledge Set on Fire at Party

5 hours ago

If CA Wants to Lead on AI, It Can’t Let 3 Companies Hog the Infrastructure

5 hours ago

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Pana...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

2 hours ago

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

2 hours ago

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

2 hours ago

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

3 hours ago

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

3 hours ago

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

Madera County Sheriff’s Office is investigating fraudulent letters falsely claiming to be official warnings about gunfire fines. (Madera County SO)
3 hours ago

Madera Authorities Warn About Fake Letters Circulating in Ranchos Community

Tiffany Apodaca/Marjaree Mason Center
4 hours ago

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend