The town of Camp Verde and the Yavapai-Apache Nation will be hosting an Earth Day event and celebration on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park. The event will include a family fun walk, live entertainment, educational booths, a raffle and giveaway, arts and crafts vendors and a free lunch.
Earth Day was founded in 1970 to provide education and awareness regarding environmental issues in the wake of a number of incidents of extensive environmental damage, including the 1969 burning of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, the use and effects of the insecticide DDT and unregulated industrial pollution.
U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson [D-Wis.], who was inspired by the “teach-ins” that took place in response to the Vietnam War on college campuses, wanted to create a similar form of activism that could take on environmental issues.
In 1969, Nelson announced the concept for an earth day at a conference in Seattle, urging the entire country to become involved. The response was huge, with millions participating nationwide.
Earth Day ushered in a new decade of environmental awareness during which many important pieces of environmental legislation were passed, including the Clean Air Act, Water Quality Improvement Act and the Endangered Species Act. The holiday is now celebrated globally and has become the largest secular civic event in the world, according to the Earth Day Network, with over 1 billion participants worldwide.
The Yavapai-Apache Nation argued for the importance of caring for nature in a press release, claiming that they are “carrying forth our traditional knowledge to preserve Mother Earth.”
The Nation recently established an Environmental Protection Department. The department intends to apply its efforts to collecting water quality samples, riparian restoration, removal of invasive species, reintroducing culturally-sensitive plant species, solid waste cleanups, outreach and education, enforcing environmental codes and participating in local efforts to pass legislation, such as designating the Upper Verde as a Wild and Scenic River.
Individuals can help protect the environment by practicing “leave no trace” principles, using and enjoying nature, supporting local conservation efforts and organizations and sharing information with friends and family.
