Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth's natural resources for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in the United States and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox ( 春 分 ) occurs throughout the (26) of the world.

Environmental activism during the 1960s (27) Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to create a (28) celebration uniting the environmental movement. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at

Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, educating participants in the (29) of environmental protection. Attended by 20 million people across the United States, the event (30) support for legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.

In 1990, Hayes organized a global Earth Day, with more than 200 million participants in 140 countries.

Earth Day now brings (31) citizens and activists from around the world to raise awareness and take action regarding such environmental (32) as global warming and renewable energy.

Today, the Earth Day Network, which rallies more than 20,000 (33) and organizations in 190 countries, supports the Earth Day mission year-round. This mission is founded on the proposition that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or (34) . have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network (35) this mission through education, public policy, and activism campaigns.