International Earth Day Earth Day – April 22, is a non-religious holiday in the world, celebrated by over half a billion people. Each year, the International Earth Day Network coordinates the actions of more than 12,000 partners in 174 countries aimed at protecting planet Earth and preserving life on it. The network seeks to build broad citizen support for sustainable and effective environmental development policies around the world.
Earth Day was celebrated for the first time in Bulgaria on December 14, 1930 at the initiative of the then Minister of Agriculture and State Properties, Grigor Vassilev. The initiative enjoys the broad support of other agriculture ministers from across Europe. The holiday of the Bulgarian Earth gives the organizers an opportunity to take the initiative to establish an International Earth Day. This idea finds strong support from the president of the International Agricultural Institute in Rome – De Michelis. The day that has been proposed is March 21. The day also has an astronomical value and can satisfy all the requirements of all the countries of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth.
Earth Day was first officially celebrated on April 22, 1970 in the United States and Canada. Millions of North Americans participate in a demonstration and demand that politicians, statesmen, business circles include environmental protection in their priorities. In 1990, the holiday of our planet was declared international, and Bulgaria joined in celebrating it in 1993. The goal is to unite the people of the planet in the protection of the environment.
The first Earth Day celebration was organized by Gaylord Nelson – former Wisconsin governor and senator who championed the cause of conservation and Dennis Hayes – prominent student leader. More than 20 million Americans from all over the country participate in Earth Day events. As a result of this event, a powerful environmental movement was formed and the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts of the USA were passed.
Bulgaria is one of the first countries to join the international observance of Earth Day, which began in 1990. In the International Organizing Committee for the celebration of Earth Day, Bulgaria is represented by Blagovest Sendov. He formed a National Earth Day Committee. Thousands of Bulgarians respond to the call to celebrate Earth Day, and the day is celebrated with various events dedicated to the protection of the environment. On April 22, 1992, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev signed the oath in the name of the Earth. Over 30 thousand Bulgarian children sign the Declaration of Power of Attorney for Life on Earth. The declaration was presented at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. Since then, every year, Bulgaria participates in the celebration of Earth Day and makes its contribution to a cleaner and healthier environment, to the preservation of the life of the planet.
Source: Wikipedia