MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Baria, Dawkins, Butler, Butler (36th), Bryan, Albritton, Jackson (11th), Gollott, Montgomery, Powell, Jackson (32nd), Hyde-Smith, Hopson, Kirby, Turner, Moffatt, Watson, Simmons, Harden, Tollison, Browning, Stone, Ward, Frazier
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY IN APRIL AND DESIGNATING THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010, AS "MISSISSIPPI EARTH DAY: THE GREEN GENERATION" AND URGING ALL STATE AGENCIES AND CITIZENS TO BE ENERGY STEWARDS.
WHEREAS, many congregations in Mississippi celebrate Earth Day to praise the beauty of God's creation by focusing on a particular environmental issue and in answering God's gift of everyone to be faithful stewards of creation; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2010, the global Earth Day celebrations will mark their 40th Anniversary along with the Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that grew out of the original Earth Day in 1970. Just as the annual celebration has grown exponentially to now include over a billion participants, so has the organization dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and connecting supporters through its international network; and
WHEREAS, Earth Day Network's "Green Generation" campaign is a two-year initiative that launched in 2009 and culminates on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. The Green Generation includes ordinary people who are engaged in individual and collective activities to improve their health, to improve their schools, and to participate in building a solution to urgent national and global issues, such as the world's water crisis; and
WHEREAS, for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010, there is unprecedented opportunity to build a new future. Earth Day has the power to bring about historic advances in climate policy, renewable energy and green jobs and catalyze millions who make personal commitments to sustainability - A Billion Acts of Green - mobilizing the power of people to create change by taking small steps in our homes, our schools and our businesses that add up to an enormous collective action; and
WHEREAS, Earth Day 40 is a pivotal opportunity for people, corporations and governments to join together to create a global green economy. Our coordinated efforts now will be recognized by future generations as a turning point; and
WHEREAS, people are increasingly bound together in a green movement that will no doubt equal or eclipse other monumental changes in social and industrial history. Earth Day Network is joined by many "futurist" writers who believe that history will view this period as the launch of an era devoted to a new way of living and doing business sustainably. Earth Day 2010 will mark that beginning of the change; and
WHEREAS, to reach this goal to build a cleaner, smarter and safer energy future, and meet and overcome the most urgent challenge facing us, all Americans and Mississippians must make different, better decisions about the energy used at home, at work and as a nation and state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate Thursday, April 22, 2010, as "Mississippi Earth Day: The Green Generation" and urge all state agencies and citizens to be energy stewards and to focus on this critical national issue.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution shall be disseminated by the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Board of Health by appropriate public service advertisements and shall be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.