April is the time of year when we celebrate Earth’s bounties, take joy from daylight as it emerges from darkness’s sheath, and as we are released from the ravages of winter cold, snow and ice. April is also a time for us to reflect on the importance of the earth’s natural environment to our health and wellbeing, and the damage it suffers as a result of human pursuit of perpetual economic growth. The old adage that, “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is poignant today for many reasons but, perhaps, especially so for the environment. With government’s of all stripes and colours, north and south of the Canada, U.S. border, rolling back environmental legislation in the name of progress, growth and affordability, it’s worth looking back to the time before much of this legislation existed to examine the impact that unbridled growth can have on our quantity and quality of life.

April 22, 2025 will mark the 55th anniversary of the first Earth Day celebration. April 1970 represented a rare time for U.S. environmental activism, where Democrats and Republicans joined with labour and business leaders, as well as members of the public from all walks of life to support legislative action that would start to curtail human caused environmental degradation. The first Earth Day was the catalyst for change but the seeds of that change had been planted during the previous decades.

After WWII and up to the end of the 1960’s, the public and press had been largely ambivalent to concerns about the effects of a polluted environment on human health. Without legislation or regulation, industry was allowed to disperse vast quantities of toxic pollutants into the air and water. Automotive companies were allowed to build large heavy automobiles with inefficient engines that burned huge quantities of leaded gas. Lead, and its combustion related byproducts, are known carcinogens and neurotoxins. Research reported in Psychiatrist.com has linked the decades use of leaded gasoline to increased rates of violent crime, mental illness and other negative psychological effects, the impacts of which linger even today.

In addition, oil and chemical spills were a regular occurrence in the 50s and 60s. There were stories of waterways, so polluted with industrial effluent that they caught fire, the most notable being the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland Ohio that went up in flames on June 22, 1969.

In the 1940’s the chemical industry invented synthetic pesticides most notably DDT. These chemicals were used in large quantities to control insect transmitted diseases such as malaria and typhus and as a way to improve crop and livestock yields. But they also had nasty side effects including animal reproductive disruptions and “bio-accumulation”, meaning they would build up in the tissues of plants and animals which further accumulated up the food chain until toxicity levels caused the plant or animal to die. It took the 1962 book called “Silent Spring”, written by Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist and environmental activist, to begin raising public awareness of the escalating human and ecological dangers, associated with the unrestricted use of these toxins.

Senator Gaylord Nelson, spurred to action by a large 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara California, struck a committee with the aim to bring national attention to air and water pollution. He convinced Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman to co-chair the committee. They engaged a young activist named Denis Hayes to organize university campus teach-ins and engage national media to raise public awareness. They chose April 22, 1970 to be Earth Day because they though a weekday falling between spring break and final exams would allow for large student engagement. They were right, An estimated 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day, making it the largest political demonstration in U.S. history at that point. The movement led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. and Canadian water pollution regulations including, the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Since President Trump and his team entered the Whitehouse in January they have fired or threatened the jobs of hundreds of EPA workers and have targeted hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for the protection of the great lakes. North of the border, Prime Minister Carney has eliminated the consumer carbon tax and has promised to streamline project reviews to make Canada an energy superpower.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister has committed to continued support for focused green incentives for energy retrofits and EV charging infrastructure. He will maintain an “improved” industrial carbon tax as well as maintain the oil and gas sector emissions cap. All of these initiatives would be scrapped under a government led by Pierre Pollievre, according to the Conservative party platform.

The point is that no matter who you vote for on April 28th, make sure the candidates and the party understand that you feel it important to maintain strong environmental regulations that will encourage environmental innovation, hold companies to account for environmental damage and prevent catastrophic climate change and ecosystem collapse. Our forests are already burning more than they need to because of climate change; we don’t need our rivers ablaze again as well.

What you can do.

• Vote for the party that has the best vision for an environmentally sustainable Canada,
• Write to or speak with your local candidates to let them know that economic growth must be in balance with the need for a sustainable environment,
• Stay informed about local environmental issues by subscribing to the BEA newsletter,
• Join the BEA and take part in environmental events

Earth Hour, Earth Day, Earth Month – What’s the Difference?

• Earth Hour:
  • What: A global initiative where people, communities, and businesses turn off non-essential lights for one hour (8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time) to raise awareness about climate change and environmental issues. 
  • When: Typically on the last Saturday of March. 
  • Focus: Symbolic action to highlight the importance of environmental action and encourage people to take action against climate change. 
  • Example: In 2023, Earth Hour took place on March 25th. 
• Earth Day:
  • What: An annual event on April 22 dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and action. 
  • When: April 22nd every year. 
  • Focus: A day to celebrate the Earth, raise awareness about environmental issues, and encourage people to take action to protect the planet. 
  • Example: The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. 
• Earth Month:
  • What: A broader period in April that focuses on environmental awareness and action. 
  • When: The entire month of April. 
  • Focus: A month-long celebration of the Earth, with various activities and events to promote environmental protection and sustainability. 
  • Example: Many organizations, including the National Environmental Education Foundation, celebrate Earth Month throughout April.