Hi John –

It’s not too late to be part of a community standing together as a force for good. 

50 years ago, America was in crisis – and operating under an administration that seemed to see no value in environmental protection. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill spewed 3 million gallons of oil along the coast. Rivers were so filled with pollution that they caught on fire. And the iconic bald eagle and its fellow birds of prey were on the brink of extinction as DDT took its toll. 

Americans rose to the call – and Earth Day was born. 20 million Americans poured out into the spring sunshine in peaceful demonstrations calling for environmental reform – and it worked.

You still have a chance to build on that legacy. Take action today, and call on Congress to build a better future for 100% of us.

Thanks,

Heather

-------Original Message-------
From: Heather Shelby, Environmental Defense Fund
Sent: Wednesday, April 222nd, 2020

Hi John –

For half a century, our country has set aside one day a year to gather together and call for a better future. We aren’t going to let that milestone slip by unnoticed. 

When Earth Day began, America was in crisis – with rivers aflame, wildlife and people alike in danger, and a presidential administration that  seemed to see no value in environmental protection. 

But when we came together on Earth Day, Americans convinced Richard Nixon – who had, behind closed doors, called environmentalists “enemies” bent on “destroying the system” to sign 14 major pieces of environmental legislation and create the Environmental Protection Agency.

Join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by bringing our community together as a force for good. Let’s call on Congress to build a safer, healthier, and cleaner future.

We have spent so much time lately worrying about the worst – but it’s only brought out the best in most of us. 

We’ve seen cities join together while isolated, opening up their windows to cheer and applaud the healthcare workers who are putting themselves on the front lines of this pandemic, day after day. We’ve left grocery bags outside our neighbors’ doors, with the things we know they’re struggling to find. We’ve stood together – even while we’re six feet apart.

As Americans – and the world – move past this crisis, Congress will consider how to give a boost to our economy that will empower us to rebuild and put people back to work. 

EDF supporters have already blown past our initial goal of sending Congress 50,000 messages on Earth Day, calling on them to act now to build a better future for our families, our communities, and the generations to come. 

So we’ve set a new goal: 100,000.

But your name is missing! Take action, before it’s too late, and make sure Congress knows what Americans expect from them: A better future for 100% of us.

Thank you for standing with us,

Heather Shelby
Action Network Manager