Earth Day has steadily grown in popularity since its inception on April 22, 1970. Earth Day today is bigger than ever with public events sponsored by private and government groups alike spanning the country.
“Earth Day 2012s main theme is to mobilize the earth,” said Earth Day Network’s Brian Buchanan. “The idea this year is that they want to make enough noise that world leaders will pay attention.”
Claiming to be the “largest combined Earth Day celebration in North America,” the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is hosting its annual Earth Day Party for the Planet throughout the country.
Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, N.J., and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse are area participants. In the nation’s capital, the National Zoo will participate this Sunday (Earth Day) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT). Like most Earth Day celebrations, Party for the Planet will be free.
Many of the Earth Day events include conservation efforts in place of festivities.
Parkville, Mo., for example, wrapped up April 12, 2012 with a dual-purpose tree-planting project: to help recognize Earth Day, and restore the city’s English Landing Park.
