First celebrated in 1970 Earth Day is now celebrated around the world. In 1970, San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. McConnell chose the spring equinox (March 21, 1970) and Nelson chose April 22. The April 22 Earth Day was first organized to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.