A WISCONSIN TREASURE--GAYLORD NELSON, EARTH DAY FOUNDER!

There are extraordinary people around the world who have made major contributions to improving our environment and the lives of people everywhere, but one who stands out the most for me is a humble, dedicated man from Clear Lake, Wisconsin—Gaylord Nelson.  I especially think of him on this day every year—EARTH DAY—April 22.  He was the principal founder of Earth Day in 1970, and from the time he became a Wisconsin senator in 1962, he worked diligently to get Washington involved in the environment.  He once said, “It was truly an astonishing grassroots explosion . . . The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy.” And indeed it did.  Earth Day is now celebrated in 192 countries.

Gaylord Nelson was born in 1916, and by the time he died in 2005, he had served his

 

 

country in many different ways—as Wisconsin governor, senator, and in the U.S. army during World War II.  He was called the “Conservation Governor.”  When he helped establish the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 he wanted “a national day for the environment.”  His efforts were significant in bringing about the modern environmental movement. He helped President Kennedy start a national tour for conservation and the environment.  He worked tirelessly in his efforts to establish environmental protection legislation, including the Clean Waters Act, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Education Act, the National Hiking Trails, and the National Scenic Trails Act, as well as establishing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which includes 20 islands. Eighty percent of the area of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is named after him. There’s also a Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton in 1995.

Photo of sandy beach on Apostle Islands by Bobak Ha'Eri

 

Gaylord Nelson was a visionary man who was passionate about the environment and nature and the plight of less fortunate people everywhere.  Below I’ve included some of his most famous quotes. He was truly a Wisconsin treasure, but more than that, a gift to the world.

“The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes and oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity . . . that’s all there is.  That’s the whole economy.  That’s where all the economic activity and jobs come from.  These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world.”

“We must realize that we’re all part of a web of life around the world.  Anytime you extinguish a species, the consequences are serious.”

“The ultimate test of a man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”