Caty Weaver

This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Environment Report.

On April twenty-second, millions of Americans and people aroundthe world will observe the thirty-third anniversary of Earth Day.Across the United States, people will attend events to show theirsupport for protecting the Earth's environment.

Earth Day is a yearly call for people to work together to savethe planet. The first Earth Day took place in the United States onApril twenty-second, nineteen-seventy. Former Senator Gaylord Nelsonstarted Earth Day because he believed few public officials wereconcerned about the environment. He organized a nationwide effort toeducate people about environmental issues. Twenty-million Americanstook part.

The first Earth Day helped make the environment an importantissue. It led to the passage of important laws in the United States.These included the clean air and clean water acts and the creationof the Environmental Protection Agency.

Experts say the environment in the United States is better thanit was thirty-three years ago. There are stronger laws and bettertechnologies. However, experts say major threats around the worldremain.

For example, air and water pollution are still serious problemsin many countries. The human population is putting more pressure onland and water supplies. The destruction of forests threatens somerare kinds of plants and animals. And, scientists say that burningsome fuels is causing a dangerous warming of the Earth.This year'sEarth Day message is "Water for Life." There are many Internet sitesyou can visit to learn ways to help protect the Earth. For example,the World Wildlife Fund suggests joining the Conservation ActionNetwork. It is a free service that helps people establish newlegislation, policies and programs designed to care for the planet.

Conservation Action Network activists already have had manyenvironmental successes. For example, the network helped stopRussians from hunting beluga whales. The group also worked to passlegislation to protect the Galapagos Islands. And, it helped pass abill that has increased protection of tigers and rhinoceroses.

The World Wildlife Fund also suggests smaller ways you can helpthe planet every day. The group's Internet Web address is w-w-w dotworldwildlife dot org. Worldwildlife is all one word.

This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by CatyWeaver and George Grow.