With the April 22 celebration of Earth Day, here’s a quick overview of what it’s all about:

• Earth Day was established in 1970, gaining traction with social activism movements including civil rights movements and pushes for equality between men and women.
• Original campaigns were focused on localised issues such as pesticide use and oil spills.
• Today, the United Nations official recognizes  International Mother Earth Day, actively campaigning that ecosystems provide people around the world with life and sustenance.
• The theme of 2018 is reducing the impact of plastics on our environment.

If you’re interested in learning more, National Geographic has an in-depth summary.