This Monday, April 22 marks the 43rd annual Earth Day, a day of support for our natural surroundings.

It all started in 1970, when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed the devastation of an oil spill in 1969 Santa Barbara, Calif. He coordinated the effort with other politicians, the press and schools, and by April 22, 20 million Americans rallied coast to coast for the sake of the environment.

This event led to the modern American environmental political agenda, spurring the foundation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Since, the movement has gone global, and Earth Day itself is largely credited with birthing the modern environmental movement worldwide.