Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement—the social movement that aimed to protect the natural world from harmful environmental practices in order to create sustainable living. Prior to the movement, the United States (U.S.) remained relatively oblivious to environmental concerns and possible threat of pollution to human health and prosperity. 

According to the official Earth day site, in Jan. of 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson—who had already been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the U.S.—witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Succeeding this event, Senator Nelson announced the idea for a live teach-in on college campuses to the national media. 

Recognizing its potential to inspire all Americans, congressmen and activists alike decided to name the event Earth Day. This immediately caught national media attention and spread all across the country. The official Earth Day site states that Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans—almost 10 percent of the total population of the U.S. at the time—to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to fight against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development. Earth Day of 1970 provided a voice to this emerging environmental consciousness, and shed light on environmental concerns that needed to be addressed. 

Now, almost 53 years later, Earth Day is still being celebrated. Today the event is celebrated more reverently due to the current state of our climate and the increase of climate change awareness. Many Bonita Vista High (BVH) students and staff members commemorated the day in their own ways to show their respect for the Earth. 

“I went with South Bay Sustainable Communities and helped clean up the Chula Vista Marina View Park. I also went on a kayak and kayaked to another part of the park to pick up trash there,” junior Marvin Canton said. 

South Bay Sustainable Communities aims to build healthy and sustainable communities by encouraging them to implement changes in their daily lives such as environmental conservation, neighborhood composting and sustainable urban farming. Earth Day is a perfect opportunity for the network to promote sustainability. Canton explains why he wanted to take part in this Earth Day clean up. 

“I find Earth Day important because it’s our Earth and we only have one of them. It’s truly a gift to have it, and protecting it is something that is worthwhile doing,” Canton said. “Earth Day makes us more aware of what we’re doing to the environment and what we can do to help protect it.” 

Junior Lyra Rhoades shares a similar view of Earth Day. Her and her mom spent their day by walking a nearby hiking trail. Though it was something small, it was something local that could make Rhoades and her mom feel they were doing their part. 

“Going outside and experiencing nature for what it is, I feel like it helps you become more aware of how important the Earth is. Being able to see how beautiful it is puts you into perspective of how important it is to conserve what we have and how [Earth and nature altogether] isn’t something we want to lose,” Rhoades said. 

Similar to Rhoades, junior Kajah Smith spent the day simply enjoying silver strand beach with friends. She and her friends wanted to just connect with nature, while simultaneously picking up trash and recycling. Smith shares how connected she feels with nature.

“I absolutely think we need to celebrate the place that is giving us a home and resources to survive. When I was younger, my family and I used to do beach clean up and just connect with the land around us. Everyone should be celebrating the Earth,” Smith said. 

Earth Day is an opportunity for people to reflect on whether they are contributing to or fighting the climate crisis. BVH students chose to celebrate by taking in nature and doing what they can to combat pollution and climate change. 

“I think Earth Day should be celebrated every day. The Earth is such an integral part of our lives—it’s literally our home,” Rhoades said. “Earth Day is a really good day to celebrate the Earth for what it is, which is this beautiful thing full of natural landforms. This special day allows us a time to immerse ourselves in the world around us.”