Forty years ago, nearly 20 million Americans participated in what was the beginning of the modern movement toward environmental awareness. Inspired by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing an oil spill off California’s coast, Earth Day was started to spotlight environmental degradation and the need to protect our natural resources.

Though some progress has been made in the decades following its creation, this year we have little room to celebrate – big oil, big coal, and big businesses are holding back our progress in order to maintain the status quo that lines their pockets at the expense of public health.

Since Earth Day began 40 years ago, America has had an energy policy that continues to reward polluters, threatens our national and economic security and keeps us dependent on energy sources from overseas.

This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2010.