Creating a Research Question
The historical topic I have chosen concerns environmental issues, specifically climate change. The research focuses on climate change obstacles that have been overcome since Earth Day 50 years ago and existing barriers challenging the move towards a better environment. I believe that environmental issues affect the population globally, affecting various sectors of quality living, such as water crises, air pollution, poverty, global warming, and food shortages. The establishment of Earth Day led to numerous environmental protection protocols, making it valuable for research to give insights into climate change issues today.
My historical research is significant in the current event by drawing attention to environmental issues and specific details that need to be addressed concerning climate change today. Addressing the issue from a historical perspective can help society draw inspiration from the movement’s founders to face the changing world’s current challenges. Most of all, the research is significant in understanding trends in climate change and global warming since time and predicting future trends to enhance mitigation measures and save the world.
The historical research question is, “What obstacles have we overcome since the creation of Earth Day 50 years ago, and what barriers still exist?” The questions aim to address environmental obstacles that have been overcome since the establishment of Earth Day and existing problems today. The research is influenced by Christopher Nicholas’ article, “Commentary on Earth Day and the Relationship to Historical Developments in Air Pollution Control and Scientific Next Steps.” The article discusses how Earth Day has influenced technologies to combat air pollution, mitigate climate change, and provide a sustainable environment, which challenged me to explore the historical event.
Other sources include “Earth Day, 50 Years on: Q&A with Denis Hayes, coordinator of the First Earth Day,” published by Earth Day Network (EDN) as a primary source. The network interviews Hayes, the assistant event organizer in 1970 who has continued the movement to date. The secondary article I will use for research is Griffith Jean’s book “Earth Day: America at the Environmental Crossroads.” Both sources provide various insights into the events that led to the formation of the movement and events that took place on Earth Day, challenging the reader to broaden their perspectives on environmental issues and climate change.
Building Context to Address Questions
The historical context of Earth Day focuses on the importance of environmental laws in protecting the environment and mitigating climate change. The event was first held as a movement towards establishing laws to protect the environment in April 1970 in the United States (EDN, 2020). The demonstration garnered much attention, leading to several environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other nations joined the movement over time, making it a global event celebrated annually on 22nd April. Thus, the movement became a global event, creating awareness of the need to protect the environment and climate change issues.
The historical event might lead to the current event since climate change continues to be a global issue that is increasing rapidly. The crisis affects many lives, and environmental injustices continue to thrive worldwide, particularly among vulnerable communities such as low-income earners, developing countries, and minority groups (Nicholas, 2022). Deforestation and possible extinction of threatened species are on the rise, and immediate attention is needed to solve the problems. Therefore, the world needs historic action to ensure sustainability for humanity, natural resources, and other living organisms.
A historical figure in the Earth Day event is Senator Gaylord Nelson, the movement’s founder. The senator organized the event to create awareness about the importance of conserving the environment, which took place on 22nd April 1970. Denis Hayes, a Harvard University graduate, assisted him. The event was attended by over twenty million United States residents, which strengthened the support for legal action against environmental injustices.
The movement was motivated to create awareness of environmental problems and pave the way for legislative policies toward environmental protection and mitigating climate change (Griffith, 2019). Senator Gaylord was inspired by the anti-Vietnam War movement’s “teach-in” in colleges around the United States. Therefore, the senator adopted the same approach to force environmental issues into the national agenda.
Examining How Bias Impacts Narrative
The most compelling narrative identified during the research is the event participants. Some theories suggest Hayes as the movement’s founder, glorifying him instead of Senator Gaylord, who founded Earth Day. Although Hayes has significantly contributed to the cause, referring to him as the father of Earth Day is inappropriate and biased, given that he coordinated the first event as an assistant.
Biases in primary and secondary sources have a significant influence on knowing facts about historical events. The sources determine what is known and unknown through omissions and the addition of relevant information to suit the audience’s needs (Nersäter, 2019). Additionally, bias shapes how individuals interpret and understand historical events and figures. Bias can lead to the glorification of one historical figure over another due to misinformation. For instance, history glorifies Hayes more than Senator Gaylord as the founder of Earth Day since he continued the movement after it became popular (EDN, 2020). Thus, biases influence every aspect of history, leading to misinformed assumptions and beliefs.
The missing perspective in Earth Days’ narrative might be first-hand responses from the founder, Senator Gaylord. The narratives available are written from environmental activists’ and organizations’ perspectives which may be biased toward other factors that might have led to the movement, such as politics. An interview with the senator would have brought more insight into the participants and motivation for the Earth Day movement and whether it had a political or social agenda. The narrative ignores the voices of minority groups, such as people of color and low-income earners who might have participated in the event.
Connecting the Past with the Present
Researching Earth Day’s historical roots has helped improve my knowledge about the origin of environmental issues and environmental protection regulations. I have a better understanding of climate change and patterns through time, leading to the current climatic conditions and mitigation measures. The historical event has given me insight into past decisions that have led to the current event, such as the creation of the EPA and Water Act, which can be applied today to prevent climate change. Lastly, I can identify patterns of continuity and change by exploring the environmental change since Earth Day, existing barriers toward a better environment, and possible mitigation measures today.
Questioning individual assumptions, beliefs, and values helps promote self-awareness about biases and assumptions. It aids in identifying areas that I might have held onto, which are misinformed and outdated, leading to incorrect thoughts. The questions are beneficial in enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By questioning my assumptions, I can become better at evaluating situations and identifying solutions not considered before enhancing knowledge and informed decision-making.
Being historically informed is beneficial in the context in which current events are taking place. History shapes current social, political, cultural, and economic structures, which influence events, creating a deeper understanding of current affairs (Rickman, 2020). As a historically informed citizen, I am more aware of trends and cycles that have led to current issues. Finally, history provides valuable lessons that can be applied to contemporary issues. For instance, environmental activists can create other movements, such as Earth Day, to fight against contemporary environmental injustices. Thus, being historically informed enhances knowledge and diverse perspectives on current events.
References
Earth Day Network. (2020). Earth day, 50 Years on: Q&A with Denis Hayes, coordinator of the First Earth Day. Earth Day. Web.
Griffith, J. (2019). Earth day: America at the environmental crossroads. PAGE Publishing, INC.
Nersäter, A. (2019). Students’ understanding of historical sources – A composite ability. United States; Nordidactica – Journal of Humanities and Social Science Education. Web.
Nicholas, C. P. (2022). Commentary on earth day and the relationship to historical developments in air pollution control and scientific next steps. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 61(15), 5011–5015. Web.
Rickman, H. P. (2020). Pattern and meaning in history (RLE social theory). Routledge.