Earth Day 2018 Published April 17, 2018 By Fred Brooks PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, began in 1970 when millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development. Earth Day is now a global event as more than 1 billion people in 192 countries take part in the largest civic-focused day of action in the world. Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is a part of this celebration, and encourages a focus on plastics and energy reduction within the Air Force theme of: Conserve Today. Secure Tomorrow. Our focus on plastics is part of a larger worldwide effort spearheaded by multiple international organizations working to educate millions of people about the health and other risks associated with the use and disposal of plastics. We encourage you to take personal responsibility for plastic pollution by choosing to reject, reduce, reuse and recycle plastics when possible. Focusing on energy reduction in 2018 comes on the heels of a 20 percent energy reduction Air Force wide over the last five years. A continued focus to meet Air Force energy demand goals can free up valuable assets and conserve resources, also improving our sustainability to make Peterson AFB less vulnerable to resource shortages. Let’s ensure Peterson AFB leads the way in Earth Day initiatives across the Air Force. Our collective involvement can provide a voice for and channel the energy of this international initiative. We invite you to help us write more positive chapters into the Earth Day book.