the buzz log

In some ways, the earth is like a well-meaning mom, providing healthy and important stuff like air, water, and living things. And in return—well, we are often not as grateful as we could be. But Earth Day is our chance to show our appreciation for the planet.

Roots of Earth Day
The very first Earth Day, back in 1970, marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Before then, there was public concern about pollution, but no way to show it. According to Kathleen Rogers, head of the Earth Day Network, "It wasn't uncommon in some cities during rush hour to be standing on a street corner and not be able to see across the street." Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin asked Congress to officially declare April 22 Earth Day. That first year, 20 million people participated. Since then, it's gone global, with a billion people in over 180 countries doing something in honor of the earth.

The children really are our future
Maybe not surprisingly, those who stand to lose the most are fueling the most searches around the day. A sizeable quarter of all queries are being conducted by kids 17 and younger. Small friends of the earth are heading online before heading out, to look up all kinds of ways to celebrate the day. Eco-searches are surging on "earth day activities," "earth day crafts," "earth day coloring pages,"and "earth day projects."

Green is good
Those who want Earth Day to last all year long are conscientiously querying "energy saving tips," "reusable bags," and "how to build a compost bin." U.S. News & World Report gives five tips for going green, such as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and moving to low-flow shower heads. Yahoo! Green has the scoop on Earth Day deals, so you can save some of your own green. Just don't forget to thank your mother (earth).