CASERMA EDERLE, Vicenza, Italy -- For many centuries, the environment was something to be conquered. Initially, humankind focused on extracting Earth's resources solely for food, water and shelter. Then, the need for migration and expansion came upon us, leading to environmental challenges such as sprawl and the need for long-distance transportation. After some time, the Industrial Age was born and people discovered we could easily extract more of what we needed than ever before. This increased urbanization and intensified manufacturing activity. Also, changes in agricultural practices led to more pesticides and herbicides reaching waterways and contaminating the environment.
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day celebration brought 20 million Americans out for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform. Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) and Congressman Paul McCloskey (R-California) gave bipartisan sponsorship to the event, but its popularity far surpassed their wildest expectations. The first Earth Day lives in popular memory to this day as a joyous and life-affirming moment in American history. The theatrical flair of some of the demonstrators had a great deal to do with its success: Oil-coated ducks were dumped on the doorstep of the Department of the Interior; a student disguised as the Grim Reaper stalked a General Electric Company stockholders' meeting; demonstrators dragged a net filled with dead fish down Fifth Avenue and shouted to passers-by, "This could be you!"
The success of Earth Day gave greater priority than ever to environmental issues. In particular, it strengthened the impact of the report that Roy L. Ash of the President's Commission on Executive Reorganization had submitted, April 15. That report argued strongly that an independent agency was needed to coordinate all of the Administration's new environmental initiatives.
After many decades, unregulated pollution from industrialized activities had reached deadly proportions. Rivers were spontaneously catching fire from chemicals and fuels dumped in our nation's waterways. Smog in large cities such as London, New York and Los Angeles caused respiratory diseases and deaths of many people. Damages caused by an industrialized world could no longer be trivialized. The environment was no longer something to be ignored but rather needed protection.
Born in the wake of elevated concern about environmental pollution, EPA was established on December 2, 1970, to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. Within a year, Congress established the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Since its inception, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
We continue to build upon the early successes. We also learned from our mistakes, including terrible incidents involving human and environmental disasters such as the Bhopal gas tragedy in India and the Exxon Valdez oil spill that occurred in Alaska. We work to improve air and water quality, and keep recyclable materials out of our landfills. We act wisely to sustain our resources for this and future generations. We set aside public land forever, and protect important natural places to protect entire ecosystems and provide for recreation.
The Army and USAG Italy have been actively working to protect our natural resources for decades. Every year USAG Italy takes some time around Earth Day to celebrate our successes and recognize the challenges ahead. This year USAG Italy offers the following events for our communities during the week of Earth Day:
VICENZA MILITARY COMMUNITY
Tree-planting ceremony
April 22; location to be announced
Household hazardous waste collection days
April 21-22 at the PX
DPW Information Booth
April 22 at the PX
DARBY MILITARY COMMUNITY
Bat Habitat Installation
April 22
Location: Darby
DPW Information Booth
April 22 at the commissary
Social Sharing