User:Unbiassed/Eco Symbol



The universal, internationally recognized environmental Eco symbol represents the full spectrum of environmental interests and concerns. See environmentalism, Environmental Movement and Green Movement. The design elements represent Earth, water, land, Sun and life. When reproduced in color, the green represents land (30% of the Earth's surface), blue represents water (70% of the Earth’s surface), and yellow represents the Sun (the source of all life’s energy).

Use of the Eco symbol is not regulated. It is not associated with any agency, group, political party, ideology or business. The Eco symbol, a grassroots environmental awareness symbol, is intended to show support for any and all environmentally responsible programs or positions. The eco symbol promotes environmental awareness in a similar way that the peace symbol promotes non-violence. In addition, as with the peace symbol, the eco symbol is open to creative variations without losing its identity. The symbol is in the public domain, and is not a trademark. As such, anyone is free to use and modify the eco symbol.

In 1969 and early 1970, worldwide attention to environmental issues reached a crescendo, culminating in the first Earth Day. In response, the universal recycling symbol was created. In 2002, Daniel Poresky, a retired retail business owner in Allentown, PA, took strong interest in environmental matters. He realized that although environmentalists talk about everything being connected, there was no symbol that conveyed that message to include the Earth Day symbol, the Ecology Flag (American) and the Eco Warriors Flag. There was no universally recognized graphic that conveyed the overarching purpose of all environmental concerns - ensuring a livable world for future generations. He felt such a symbol would be especially useful by people and groups that do not have their own environmental brand or that are not focused on a particular issue. Significant use of the symbol first began in and around Allentown by schools, government organizations, the local Sierra Club, etc.

In September, 2009, Eco Whale founder Eric Talaska modified the design with the same intentions as Poresky. Talaska's design changes include addition of white to represent tundra as necessary to reflect solar heat to prevent global warming, the word "eco" designed to also represent a face and green leaves or arrows that also represent recycling.