Edhat Staff
Earth Day is celebrated worldwide on April 22, although for Santa Barbara, Earth Day means much more.
For those who have lived here long enough, 1969 was the year everyone became intimately aware of human’s effect on the environment. On January 28, a well drilled by Union Oil Platform A off the coast blew out. More than three million gallons of oil spewed, killing over 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.
Local activists banned together to create environmental regulation, education, and in effect, Earth Day. That’s right, in case you didn’t know, Earth Day was founded in Santa Barbara. We have Selma Rubin, Marc McGinnes, Bud Bottoms, and many more to thank for this.
On the first anniversary of the oil spill, January 28, 1970, Environmental Rights Day was celebrated locally. A Declaration of Environmental Rights was written by Rod Nash during a boat trip across the Santa Barbara Channel while carrying a copy of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Many activists and local politicians spoke during the event that drew a giant and passionate crowd ready to enact change.
Environmental Rights Day organizers had been working closely with then-Congressman Pete McCloskey to consult on the creation of the National Environmental Policy Act, the first of many new environmental protection laws sparked by the oil spill. Wisconsin Senator Gaylor Nelson also founded Earth Day during an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. Local activists also went on to develop the first undergraduate Environmental Studies program of its kind at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Today, Santa Barbara holds to its traditions and continues an annual Earth Day Festival. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) pioneers real-life solutions in areas with the most impact on climate change. CEC’s annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival prides itself on making it one of the cleanest, greenest, and most sustainably-minded events around, improving every year.
The Community Environmental Council and CarpEvents will present the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival 2025 at Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 27, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Learn more at SBEarthDay.org.
And the oilies are *still* pooping in our nest, now abetted by the biggest orange poop there is.
I remember being at SBCC for SB’s first ED celebration. Jackson Browne, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina among other playing- what a great time!!
Here we are, 56 years later, and we are more addicted to oil than ever. Santa Barbara has at least double the number of people living here, which roughly translates into double the amount of oil and oil products being used locally. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but I think we can try harder to get off the oil. Every time I see a red cup or plastic utensils in Alameda Park I feel sick because I know where these items are going to end up.
Yeah, you’re right – more people = more trash and waste going into the environment. It’s definitely out of control, and only getting worse.
I was eight, living here. Like watching TV news of the Viet Nam war, these events change one forever. GOO indeed.
SB does have great roots in the environmental protection movement, no doubt whatsoever. The ‘69 oil spill was a real generating force. But take a close look at what’s been happening here lately. It’s not even close to pro-environment. Massive building, giant developments, widening freeways, housing for all despite environmental limitations. Water?? Uuhhhh….
It used to be about slow-growth. Now it’s about rapid-growth. It’s pretty sad, and hypocritical to think SB is anywhere near the forefront of environmental activism anymore, unfortunately. Having all the Teslas and Rivians in the world can’t make us pro-environment given what all else is happening to our communities right now because of voters and the politicians they’re electing.