Earth Day has its roots in growing concern over pollution in the 1960s, when author Rachel Carson’s 1962 book “Silent Spring,” about the pesticide DDT and its damaging effects on the food chain, hit bestseller lists and raised awareness about nature’s delicate balance.
But it was a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, Democrat Gaylord Nelson, who had the idea that would become Earth Day. Nelson had long been concerned about the environment when a massive offshore oil spill sent millions of gallons onto the Southern California coast in 1969. Nelson, after touring the spill site, had the idea of doing a national “teach-in” on the environment, similar to teach-ins that were being held on some college campuses to oppose the war in Vietnam.
Congressional Republicans sent the resolution to President Donald Trump, hoping to clear the way for a Chilean company to extract precious metals from the region’s pristine forests and lakes.
Democrats argued on the Senate floor that lifting the ban would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to lifting protections on public lands across the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. is indefinitely extending its ceasefire with Iran — a day before it was to expire — as a new round of peace talks in Pakistan was on hold.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. is indefinitely extending its ceasefire with Iran — a day before it was to expire — as a new round of peace talks in Pakistan was on hold. Iran acknowledged the ceasefire extension but didn’t say Tehran was ready to attend the new round of talks, state TV said Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, throwing efforts to end the war further into question.
A priceless golden helmet dating back 2,500 years was returned to Romania on Tuesday after the national heirloom was stolen from a Dutch museum where it was on loan last year.
The ornate Cotofenesti helmet and three golden bracelets — some of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization — were taken from the Drents Museum in January 2025 in a raid which shocked the art world and devastated Romanian authorities.
Livy Dunlap can be reached at dunl3109@stthomas.edu.
