How Seattle helped shape the Earth Day movement

SEATTLE - Every April 22, the nation brings attention to Earth Day, the world's largest grassroots environmental movement, focusing on education and action to shine light on sustainability and the protection of natural resources. 

While Seattle tends to pride itself on its environmentally forward and outdoorsy culture, many Settleites may not know the origins of the movement that began in their city back in 1969 — most people are under the impression that the movement started solely in D.C. or Wisconsin. 

A crowd of people gather in New York on April 22, 1970, near a large poster that shows a speech bubble from planet Earth. The speech bubble reads, "Help!!", on the occasion of the first Earth Day conservation awareness celebration. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"Teach-ins" at universities across the US

Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin spent a decade in the senate, feeling frustrated with his colleagues' lack of attention to environmental issues. The Santa Barbra oil spill of 1969 sparked a fire in Nelson, to bring a "teach-ins" approach to college campuses, similar to those of anti-war efforts. 

"Teach-ins" were essentially campus-based educational protests, specifically to show outrage against the Vietnam War and were a popular protest format in that era. Nelson felt that he could shine light on environmental issues with the same approach. 

The Earth Day announcement in Seattle

At the Northwest Wilderness Conference in Downtown Seattle, held at what we know today as the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Senator Nelson called for a national environmental teach-in. 

Before the event, he had learned more about the anti-Vietnam War teach-ins and wanted to take that approach with the environment. 

He had a speech prepared, aimed toward the veteran conversationalists at the event, but decided to scrap it and follow his heart instead. A short wire story broadcast the idea, according to the Nelson Earth Day website. 

As recounted in his memoir, "Beyond Earth Day," Senator Nelson credits the support of the Seattle crowds for giving him confidence in the movement. 

Student involvement

In 1970, 25-year-old Denis Hayes from Camas was studying at Harvard when he read about Nelson's "teach-in." According to the Harvard Gazette, He flew to D.C. for a 15-minute courtesy interview with Senator Nelson that ended up turning into a two-hour conversation. A few days later, Nelson's chief of staff called Hayes, asking him to drop out of his Harvard graduate program, move to D.C. and lead the entire national campaign for the first ever Earth Day. Hayes, of course, accepted. 
 

8-1979, AUG 1 1979, JUN 23 1981, MAR 25 1982 Denis Hayes Situation "turbulent and unsettling." Credit: Denver Post  (Denver Post via Getty Images)

Denis Hayes' local ties, environmental advocacy

After successfully mobilizing 20 million people and effectively launching the modern environmental movement, Hayes eventually found his way back to Washington, specifically Seattle, where he led the Bullitt Foundation and spearheaded the Bullitt Center, which is still known as the world's greenest commercial building and is nestled on Seattle's own Capitol Hill. 

Bullitt Center, Seattle, United States. Architect: Miller Hull Partnership , 2013. Exterior facade in black and white. (Nic Lehoux/View Pictures/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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