Bill Text: MS SC676 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 676 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Designate April 22, 2011 as "Mississippi Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2011-04-07 - Died In Committee [SC676 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2011-SC676-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Dawkins

Senate Concurrent Resolution 676

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY AND DESIGNATING APRIL 22, 2011, AS "MISSISSIPPI EARTH DAY 2011: A BILLION ACTS OF GREEN" 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, 2011, the global Earth Day celebrations will mark their 41st 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, in recognition of the power of millions of individual actions, Earth Day 2011 will be organized around "A Billion Acts of Green": personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably; and

WHEREAS, at over 45 million actions to date, A Billion Acts of Green Campaign is the largest environmental service campaign in the world and is steadily building commitments by individuals, corporations, and governments in honor of Earth Day. A Billion Acts of Green inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that further the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability. The goal is to register one billion actions in advance of the Earth Summit in Rio in 2012; and

WHEREAS, A Billion Acts of Green demonstrates the kind of environmental impact that can be made when millions of people, corporations and organizations make commitments, both small and large, to better their environment. Elements of the 2011 Earth Day Campaign include:

(a) Athletes for the Earth: Bringing the voices of Olympic and professional athletes to the environmental movement;

(b) The Canopy Project: Supporting global reforestation;

(d) Women and Green Economy (WAGE): Engaging women leaders in the creation and development of a global green economy;

(e) Creating Climate Wealth: Convening 200 of the world's entrepreneurs to solve climate change and create a new green economy;

(f) Arts for the Earth: Celebrating the work of environmental artists in all media, and partnering with the American Association of Museums to bring sustainability to museums nationwide; and

WHEREAS, for the 41st Anniversary of Earth Day in 2011, the world is in greater peril than ever, but there is also 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 41 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, 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 April 22, 2011, as "Mississippi Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green" 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.