Responding to widespread environmental degradation, Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, called for an environmental teach-in, or Earth Day, to be held on April 22, 1970. Over 20 million people participated that year, and Earth Day is now observed on April 22 each year by more than 500 million people and several
national governments in 175 countries. This year the campaign aims to collect a pledges for A Billion Acts of Green, which the organizers then intend to present at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012. Any individual or business can make a pledge – popular pledges include “using less electricity,” “not using plastic bags” and “recycling more.” As of April 19 parties interested in contributing to the campaign can make pledges through the Facebook application http://apps.facebook.com/billionactsofgreen/. To find out more about Earth Day or to join the campaign for A Billion Acts of Green without using Facebook see: http://www.earthday.org
