Earth Day? What's That?

Earth Day was started in 1969 at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, so it is a relatively new holiday.  But what is the purpose of the seemingly uneventful holiday?  Could it be another Hallmark holiday? Imagine receiving a card from your grandmother in the mail wishing you a "Happy Earth Day" with a picture of an anthropomorphized, smiling Earth on it.  Surely Hallmark isn't making much money off of this holiday.  So what is the significance to Earth Day if there is no celebration?  Well maybe holidays doesn't require a celebration, but bring about awareness.  According to wikipedia (the most reliable source on the web), Earth Day was created to support environmental protection.  In fact, it's a bigger deal than one might expect.  It is celebrated by 192 countries around the world.  The thought of 192 countries coming together in the desire to protect the Earth that we share is remarkable if you think about it.  Even if Earth Day seems insignificant, the basis behind it is just the opposite.  If nothing else, respect the Earth and respect the one day that we celebrate it in unity.