A Tale of Two Earth Days:
Vernal Equinox and April 22

John McConnell announced Earth Day at a large United Nations conference, attended by over 400 notable international persons, in San Francisco in October 1969. He told his audience the first Earth Day would be on the spring equinox, March 21, 1970. The idea received great acclaim from the audience.

At the same time, Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmental advocate from Wisconson, was working with large student groups to promote awareness of pollution in the United States. He hoped to extend this message by means of an Environmental Teach-In to be held on U.S. college campuses on April 22, 1970.

John McConnell chose the equinox as a symbol of global unity, as determined by the geo-physical tilt of Earth, that all people from all nations could experience at the same moment. John also found historical precedent in ceremonies and rituals, both ancient and modern, associated with the first day of spring.

Senator Nelson chose April 22 to cater to the Environmental Teach-In audience. In 1970, April 22 was a Wednesday, midway between spring break and final exams -- two practical factors that would contribute to maximum student participation.

Immediately after John announced Earth Day at the United Nations conference, two young men introduced themselves as aides to Senator Nelson; they invited John to join the Environmental Teach-In campaign. John declined, saying the symbolism of Earth Day on the equinox was too great. He recalled that one of the men said "Earth Day" would be a good name for the Environmental Teach-In.

On Sunday, January 18, 1970, The New York Times  and The Washington Post carried full-page advertisements, paid by the Environmental Teach-In organizers, that proclaimed: "Earth Day. April 22." When John McConnell heard of this, he was incensed. "What?! We can't have two Earth Days. Why, Christmas wouldn't be the same if we celebrated it all year long. The same with your birthday."

His exclamation proved to be prophetic as confusion over the Earth Day date reigned for more than a decade. Both dates received official recognition through proclamations signed by U.S. presidents, the U.S. Congress and numerous city councils and mayors.

Eventually, the greater political connections and public relations capability enjoyed by Senator Nelson and his associates prevailed, and, today, most Americans recognize April 22 as "Earth Day."

The true, original Earth Day, however, continues to be celebrated throughout the world. A ceremony has been held at the United Nations every year since 1971 when Secretary-General U Thant rang the Peace Bell there.

The UN ceremony at which Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim rang the Peace Bell in 1972 was featured in a groundbreaking 12-hour environmental telethon carried by over 60 television stations, nationwide, on March 21, 1972. John McConnell was the inspiration and a principle architect of the program's content.

Confirming the global signficance of Earth Day on the equinox, the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said, "Earth Day is the first holy day that transcends all national boundaries, yet preserves all geographic integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts and is devoted to the preservation of the harmony of nature."

     (Three, out of 24, chapters within Peace, Justice, Care of Earth detail the origin of Earth Day, the confusion caused by having two Earth Days, and the traditions associated with Earth Day on the vernal equinox.)