Nevada Appeal at 150: April 22, 1970: First ‘Earth Day’ today

First ‘Earth Day’ today

“Earth Day,” which is being celebrated for the first time nationally today, is focusing attention on the problems of environmental pollution across the nation.

For Northern Nevadans, environmental control currently centers on two major projects; control of the deteriorating environment at Lake Tahoe, and an effort to do something about the deteriorating quality of the Carson River.

The unprecedented Earth Day event focuses attention in more than 2,000 communities across the country on pollution problems, both local and national. In addition, many groups slated massive cleanups.

At the same time, some corporations and large businesses singled out for criticism by antipollution groups took advertisements and planned talks at various school and community groups to give their side of the story.

Hundreds of motorists planned to forsake their automobiles for the day to protest pollution caused by the internal combustion engine. Traffic bans were scheduled in parts of many cities including New York and Philadelphia.

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.