How we lost the spirit of Earth day
And how we can reclaim a once radical movement
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. A day when people across the United States came together to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote conservation efforts. Earth Day was first proposed by Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was concerned about the impact of pollution on the environment. He wanted to create a national day of environmental education and activism, and he enlisted the help of Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the event. On this first Earth Day, millions of Americans participated in rallies, demonstrations, and educational events. In New York City, over a million people gathered in Central Park for a day-long celebration that featured speeches by political leaders and performances by musicians. In other cities, people organized tree plantings, trash cleanups, and other environmental projects. Students held teach-ins and educational events on college campuses across the country. Even Congress shut down for the day so that lawmakers could attend Earth Day events in their home districts.
The first Earth Day also led to significant, and tangible changes in environmental policy in the United States. It helped to spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later that year, as well as the passage of several major environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. While the first Earth Day was a powerful moment in history for the environmental movement, there has been a drastic, steep decline in how the United States has been handling environmental issues in recent years. One major challenge has been the political polarization and gridlock that has characterized environmental policy in the United States. While there have been some bipartisan efforts to address environmental issues, such as the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, many environmental policies have become increasingly contentious and politicized.
Recently, there has been debate and controversy around issues such as climate change, renewable energy, and environmental regulation. Some political leaders have questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, while others have advocated for rolling back environmental regulations and promoting fossil fuel production altogether. This political polarization and gridlock has made it difficult to enact meaningful environmental policies and initiatives. In addition, the influence that powerful industries such as the fossil fuel industry have had on political decision-making has also been a major obstacle to progress on environmental issues.
The failures of the United States in addressing environmental issues can be understood as part of a broader systemic problem related to capitalism. Capitalism is described by a relentless drive for profits and growth, which often comes at the expense of the environment and the well-being of workers and communities. In this economic structure, natural resources are treated as commodities to be exploited for profit, rather than as resources to be stewarded and conserved for future generations. This profit-driven approach to the environment has led to a number of environmental problems, including climate change, pollution, deforestation, and species extinction. These problems are exacerbated by the fact that the costs of environmental damage are often externalized, meaning that they are not fully reflected in the prices of goods and services. Furthermore, the interests of powerful industries and elites often dominate political decision-making, leading to policies that prioritize corporate profits over environmental protection and social welfare. This has been particularly evident in recent years, as the fossil fuel industry and other various extractive industries have exerted dangerous influence on environmental policy in the United States.
Industries such as chemical, agriculture, and automotive sectors have been known to lobby for and influence public policy to fight environmental change. The chemical industry, for example, has lobbied against environmental regulations that would require them to disclose the safety of their products and the impacts of their production processes. The agriculture industry has lobbied against restrictions on the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The fossil fuel industry has a long history of lobbying against climate action and pushing for deregulation and subsidies that enable them to continue extracting and burning fossil fuels, despite the clear environmental consequences. These industries have power to influence public policy and promote their own interests, often at the expense of the environment for the sake of profits.
Large influential industries have a substantial impact on environmental decision-making in the United States. Oil, gas, and coal companies have lobbied aggressively against climate change regulations and other environmental protections. They have funded research and advocacy campaigns aimed at sowing doubt about the science of climate change, and have pushed for policies that promote the continued use of fossil fuels. The agribusiness industry is another powerful force in environmental policy-making. Large-scale industrial agriculture and food processing companies have a significant impact on land use, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. These companies have opposed regulations aimed at curbing pollution and reducing the use of harmful chemicals, and have also lobbied for policies that promote their interests over those of the environment and public health. The automobile industry has also been influential in shaping environmental policy. As one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, the industry has faced increasing pressure to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. However, car manufacturers have often opposed environmental regulations, and have worked to weaken or delay policies aimed at reducing emissions. In all of these cases, powerful industries have used their financial resources, lobbying power, and political influence to shape environmental policy in their favor. This has often come at the expense of the environment and public health, and has made it more difficult to enact meaningful environmental protections.
We as the workers have an important role to play in pushing for meaningful environmental change. There are a number of actions that workers can take to promote sustainability and advocate for environmental protections. One key strategy is to support and participate in grassroots movements that advocate for environmental justice and climate action. These movements often focus on issues like clean air and water, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy, and can help increase public pressure for policy change. Workers can also unionize and negotiate for those protections in their workplaces. Advocating for policy change is another effective strategy. This can include contacting elected officials, participating in public hearings and town halls, and supporting political candidates who prioritize environmental issues; but at the end of the day, holding large industries accountable for their detrimental impacts is critical to achieving meaningful change.
One way that workers can hold companies accountable is by demanding transparency and accountability from corporate leaders. This means calling for companies to publicly disclose their environmental impacts and commitments, as well as holding executives and board members responsible for such violations. Another strategy is to use collective bargaining agreements to negotiate for stronger environmental protections in the workplace. Unions can negotiate with employers to implement environmental management systems, reduce waste and pollution, and promote sustainable practices. Union contracts can include provisions that require employers to take steps to reduce environmental impacts and ensure safe working conditions. Finally, workers can engage in direct action, such as protests and boycotts, to hold these companies accountable. Organizing boycotts of companies that engage in environmentally harmful practices, as well as engaging in sit-ins or blockades to draw attention and demand change, are two examples of direct action.
Earth Day was once a radical holiday that aimed to raise awareness about environmental issues and push for meaningful change. However, over time, the holiday has been made less radical by mainstream institutions and commercial interests. The first Earth Day in 1970 was a grassroots event that brought together millions of people to advocate for environmental protection and climate action. This event was characterized by its radical vision and calls for systemic change, including demands for stronger environmental regulations, an end to pollution, and a transition to renewable energy.
However, as the holiday became more mainstream, it was increasingly co-opted by corporate interests and government institutions. Rather than pushing for systemic change, Earth Day became focused on individual actions like recycling and using energy-efficient light bulbs. This co-optation of Earth Day has made it more palatable to mainstream audiences, but has also made it less effective as a tool for promoting radical environmental change. To truly address the root causes of environmental degradation, we need to focus on systemic change and challenge the power structures that enable environmentally harmful practices.
As workers, we have a role to play in pushing for this kind of change by holding large industries accountable for their environmental impacts, and by doing so, we can help reclaim the radical spirit of Earth Day and work towards a more sustainable and just future.
