Everyyear the names of 35 to 50 insects, plants, and animals are added to the list of species threatened with extinction. There are now 11,000 animals on the list. Ten species have increased enough to be removed from the list. The Toxic Substance Control Act is passed to prevent farmers from using pesticides to kill insects that damage their crops. A hole is discovered in the ozone layer over the Antarctic by a British scientist, Joe Farman.
People are increasingly committed to protecting the environment.
It is hoped that by the end of the decade, planet Earth will be in better health. Earth had its first official birthday celebration in the U.S. on April 22, 1970. More than 20 million people marched in parades, sang songs, and attended teach-ins on the environment. Earth Day 2 was celebrated on April 22, 1990. This time 100 million people around the globe celebrated.