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UNESCO Conference On Man And His Environment
In 1969, five hundred advocates attended the UNESCO conference "Man and his Environment: A View Towards Survival." Paul Ehrlich, a Stanford University professor, spoke at the meeting. He expressed doubt that it would be possible to increase the food supply to support the six or seven billion people that were expected to populate the Earth in the 21st century. Stirling Bunnell added to the fear when he claimed that no form of nuclear power, either fission or fusion, could safely substitute for fossil energy. The general talks at the conference were aimed at convincing politicians to set standard pollution measures for the nation. Representatives wanted the United States to take more responsibility for the environment.
Perhaps the most notable effect of the UNESCO conference was John McConnell's proposal of Earth Day. He suggested that one day every year should be dedicated to celebrate the planet Earth and to honor its beauty by preserving its health. He hoped that the celebration would alert the planet's inhabitants to the need to preserve and renew the resources that the Earth depends upon. On that day, twenty million Americans took it to the streets in order to show their appreciation for the environment and their dedication to a cleaner planet. McConnell later created the Earth Day Proclamation, which states that every human has a responsibility for keeping the Earth clean. The U.N. Secretary General U Thant, Margaret Mead, John Gardner, and other world leaders all signed this proclamation. It has since been used as a pledge around the world. This small idea for a day dedicated to Earth was embraced not only in the San Francisco community, but also in other countries worldwide. On April 22, 1970, Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first nationwide Earth Day. It has since become a tradition for the United Nations Peace Bell to ring at the March Equinox on Earth Day. Earth Day is now coordinated by the Earth Day Network and celebrated by over 175 different countries.
With growing public support, these initial gatherings inspired a lasting impact. President Nixon saw the public's dedication to protecting the Earth and in turn created an independent agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, to pursue these goals. Congress followed suit and passed the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act in the following three years. The effects of the 1969 UNESCO conference in San Francisco are still rooted deeply in the city. San Francisco supports green building projects and city environmental coordination. Plastic bags have been banned and mandatory recycling and composting laws have been set in place in the 21st Century. In return, these efforts are rewarded with San Francisco's perennial spot atop the lists of the greenest cities, which is sure to make John McConnell and his supporters proud.
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