The idea of a conservation tour was pitched to the Kennedy administration in 1962 and became a reality in September 1963. The tour traveled through eleven states and, although successful, it did not bring environmental issues to the political forefront at that time.

Five years later in the fall of 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, the man who convinced President Kennedy to take that tour, decided to tap into the energy of war-protesting students by calling for a day of national protest against the destruction of our environment. He set the date for April 22, 1970 and used grassroots methods for organizing and promoting the event.

The success of that first Earth Day was beyond anything Senator Nelson could have hoped for. Over 20 million people participated in what many consider the beginning of this country’s "green" movement. Now being celebrated in 171 countries by nearly a billion people, Earth Day has become the largest secular holiday in the world. 

In the 40 years since that day, the "green" movement has evolved from protest to praise and from the margins to the mainstream. We have all become ecologists, we have all become the bookkeepers in the business of the environment and, ultimately, we have all become accountable to future generations.

As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, Print Tech hopes you take time to honor the environment, appreciate nature, and consider the long haul of life on this planet.

For more information on Print Tech's environmental initiatives and how we can help you print "green," visit us at www.print-tech.com/green.