Last Saturday was Earth Day, which U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, founded on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was originally set up as an environmental teach-in hosted at many colleges, universities, primary and secondary schools, as well as hundreds of communities across the United States. More than 40 years later, Earth Day is still going strong, bringing millions of Americans together in peaceful demonstrations and celebrations in favor of environmental reform. Earth Day has many heroes and we think it truly celebrates the legacy of Chico Mendes. Growing up in the jungle Chico Mendes developed a love and respect for nature early in life.