[Futurework] CBC News Founder of Earth Day dies.htm

[Cordell, Arthur: ECOM]

Title: CBC News: Founder of Earth Day dies

Indepth » Viewpoint » Founder of Earth Day dies Last Updated Sun, 03 Jul 2005 17:44:08 EDT CBC News Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. politician who founded Earth Day 35 years ago and helped create the modern environmental movement, has died. Nelson, who was a former governor and U.S. Democratic senator from Wisconsin, died of cardiovascular failure on Sunday at his home near Washington at age 89. Gaylord Nelson (AP photo) A conservationist long before it became fashionable, Nelson's achievements included helping to create hundreds of thousands of hectares of protected wetlands and parks in Wisconsin. As a senator, he backed federal legislation that preserved the 3,380-kilometre Appalachian Trail. Nelson was best-known, however, for starting Earth Day, which attracted about 20 million participants when it debuted on April 22, 1970. The day continues to be celebrated around the world, as people clean up trash, plant trees and hold events to raise environmental awareness. In 1995, 15 years after Nelson left office, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his environmental contributions by then-president Bill Clinton. "As the father of Earth Day, he is the grandfather of all that grew out of that event: the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act," Clinton said in a statement at the time. Headlines: World Afghan attack killed 17 civilians: governor Bali court to reopen case of convicted Australian drug smuggler Japan reports possible underwater volcanic eruption Egypt's ambassador to Iraq kidnapped Vickers Vimy plane arrives safely in Ireland Founder of Earth Day dies Jobs | Contact Us | Help | RSS Terms of Use | Privacy | Copyright | Other Policies Copyright © CBC 2005 Read your letters Printable version E-mail this story

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