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America Celebrates our Planet on Earth Day April 22, 2012
Today Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains America has made including cleaner air, cleaner water, reduction of solid waste, restoration of ravaged landscapes, and the creation of new urban and national parks. Earth Day is credited with leading to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first Earth Day, it is also a time to to further our commitment to conservation and protection of the environment, to reduce pollution and to reduce energy consumption. Scientists tell us that global climate changes resulting from increasing greenhouse gas emissions are expected to challenge our water supply, agriculture, forestry, energy production, health, and transportation during the coming decades. A global warming report issued April 6 by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts a global warming of three degrees centigrade this century, potentially resulting in millions of people short of drinking water, extreme food shortages in Africa, and 20 - 30 percent of species at risk of extinction unless the warming trend is corrected. Earth Day continues to be a time to create new visions and to unite around new actions to protect our planet. Cleaning the air and water, controlling noise, and restoring ravaged landscapes are all pieces of a large mosaic, lengthening lives and improving human well being by reducing the poisons in our air, water, and soil. This is the ideal America we all cherish. Earth Day educational resources:
Join in the following Earth Day activities:
Develop a more "green" and environmentally conscious lifestyle:
1. Reduce the amount of the Earth's resources that we use: Small changes can add up to big differences, and it's simply a matter of managing your water and energy consumption at home and at work, considering transportation alternatives, by eliminating waste and using only what you need. 2. Reuse - don't just toss it, could someone else make use of it? Reuse starts with buying reusable items. When something is no longer needed, reuse becomes a simple concept "one person's trash is another person's treasure." Repairing items, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again. 3. Recycle - Can the materials be made into something new? Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to facilities that can process them into new materials or products. Old computers and other electronic items can also be recycled. Learn more at our nature friendly living links page. Exploring Nature & Our Planet:In March 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park beginning a worldwide national park movement. Today our national parks include a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. In addition, states and local counties have established parks where people can explore and enjoy these natural areas. Learn more at our Exploring Nature & Our Planet links page.  Please note that CMEN does not control the content of linked web sites, the organizations who own these websites accept sole responsibility for their content. The existence of a link does not imply endorsement by CMEN.
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Each
of us can lessen our impact on the environment and help conserve natural resources by practicing three simple
things in our daily
lives:
