Why Earth Day is Important
A Wisconsin creation, by Gaylord Nelson, and a reminder of conservation legacy being squandered.
Earth. Photo from NASA.
It is hard not to celebrate Earth Day without a sense of pride. It was, after all, founded by former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. Created as a day for Americans to recognize environmental issues and promote conservation, the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.
Nelson paved the way for some of the most important environmental protections in Wisconsin and ushered in a new era of progressive stewardship. At a time when few would listen, he knew that our environment was something to be treasured and not taken for granted.
After seeing public frustration over dilapidated state parks, the exploitation of public resources by private industry, and the unchecked pollution of waterways, Nelson took decisive action. As Governor, he created the Department of Natural Resources, established a Youth Conservation Corps, and funded the Outdoor Recreation Action Program to preserve land for public parks and wilderness areas.
A visionary of his time, Nelson knew that economic prosperity didn’t have to come at the expense of our clean air, land and water. Unfortunately, a recent report revealed that Wisconsin has dropped as a leader in conservation and many fear our proud history of environmental stewardship is in jeopardy.
Republicans also eliminated vital wetlands protections, increased flooding risks, and compromised water quality. After back-to-back summers of severe flooding across the state, communities need wetlands more than ever to absorb excess flood waters and protect public safety.
With warmer temperatures and summer just around the corner, people from all over will travel to our state parks and beaches to enjoy the scenic outdoors. From hunting and fishing to tourism and recreation, Wisconsin’s unique natural beauty is a major driving force behind the success of local communities and sustainable economic opportunities for families. Simply put, clean water, land and air are essential to our way of life.
For our children and grandchildren to enjoy the same opportunities we have, we need to safeguard access to clean water, land and air and prevent special interests from taking unfair advantage of our environment. This Earth Day, Democrats want to continue Gaylord Nelson’s legacy. Together, we can protect our quality of life, stop the degradation of our environment and advance policies that ensure a better future for everyone.
Jennifer Shilling serves as the Senate Democratic Leader and represents the 32nd District which covers La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford and parts of Monroe County.
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And look at what WI has for a governor now. Warren Knowles would be considered a “loony lefty libtard” nowadays by the Tea Pots. I so miss the days when WI was considered to be a progressive state. Yes, I’m old enough to remember those days.
Clear air and water is essential to Wisconsin’s economy. Tourism is vital to the economy to many areas of Wisconsin. By rolling back environmental protections, Walker and current Republicans have turned their backs on local vitality for padding the pockets of wealthy multi-national corporations that have no stake in Wisconsin.
Follow up on MKE Kid’s comment. In 1970, I was working on a dissertation on Soviet environmental problems. I was engaged as a consultant to the American United Nations panel for the first Earth Day. My job was to brief them on Soviet issues as they worked with a counterpart Soviet group to keep these questions off the Cold War agenda. The chairman of our panel was Robert O. Anderson, the CEO of Atlantic Richfield Oil, founder of the Aspen Institute, and an environmental leader. Today he would be attacked as a “crank.” His counterpart today would be Rex Tillerson of Exxon Mobil, the failed Secretary of State and financial backer of climate change denial. One of the extraordinary scientists on the panel was Walter Roberts, a pioneer of climate change science, who, today, would be accused by the Heartland Institute and Fox News of being a “junk scientist.” The President was Richard Nixon who would sign the life-changing Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, our landmark environmental laws. Today we have a narcissistic criminal in the White House who thinks climate change is a hoax perpetrated by China and has put Scott Pruitt, a tool of the fossil fuel industry in the EPA to undermine our environmental laws. And in place of Warren Knowles, Gaylord Nelson and Henry Reuss, Wisconsin Has hear no evil, See no evil and Evil, Ron Johnson, Glen Grothmann and Scott Walker.
After great progress, it has been a steep decline, and the big bills are yet to come in.
To MKE kid, thankfully, we still have Leon’s and the University of Lawsonomy as beacons of hope and intelligence.
frank, aka robbies: Yes, and we also must acknowledge that other great institute of higher education, the National Liquor Bar.