LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day
on April 22, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those institutions and organizations, government and communi-
ty leaders dedicating their purposeful work to increasing public aware-
ness of, and appreciation for New York's natural resources, recognizing
the role all citizens have in protecting the environment and the quality
of life in this Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Over the 45 years since a former United States Senator from
Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, called for a nationwide environmental teach-
in and founded Earth Day on April 22, 1970, millions of Americans, year
after year, have conducted peaceful demonstrations calling for environ-
mental reform; and
WHEREAS, Earth Day is now observed annually on April 22nd by more than
500 million people around the globe and national governments in 175
countries; and
WHEREAS, In the more than four decades which have passed since the
first Earth Day, the ongoing burdens of population growth, pollution,
extreme weather and so many other environmental challenges and crises
have remained high among the most critical issues confronting our State,
our Nation and all nations; and
WHEREAS, As the commitment of increasing numbers of American citizens
and people around the world have been raised to unprecedented levels, an
emerging and ever-developing national and international consciousness in
activism, advocacy, education, government and industry has spread across
the globe and resulted in the passage of sweeping new laws to protect
our air, our land, our water, our wildlife and all of the planet's
endangered, finite and vastly overburdened resources; and
WHEREAS, Sustaining the quality and the productivity of our natural
environment, through a balanced, diligent, fair and serious sense of
stewardship and conservation, is the foundation of a healthy society and
a robust economy best achieved through a far-reaching, diverse network
of decision makers working in unison for common goals and a common good
to enhance, preserve and protect the natural resources, environmental
beauty and the ethics of conservation which have long defined our State;
and
WHEREAS, A deep-rooted knowledge of ways to live in harmony with our
environment, and the methods and technologies to accomplish this end,
already exists in the countless policies and programs which New York
State has enacted in defense of our pristine natural resources and to
secure the well-being of communities sustained by agriculture, founded
nearby clean waters and, more recently, advanced by a movement that
promotes reliance on renewable energy resources and recycling; and
WHEREAS, Local communities can do much to reverse environmental degra-
dation and contribute to building a healthy society by promoting energy
conservation, sustainable land use policies, and public transit; and
WHEREAS, There are sound cultural, economic and environmental reasons
for local governments to initiate energy efficiency and renewable energy
practices; and
WHEREAS, The environmental realities of our time require citizens in
every community, of every age and from all walks of life, to make a
dramatic shift in our relationship to the earth; and
WHEREAS, April 22, 2015, marks the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day, a
day set aside to celebrate the beauty and bounty of our environment and
to renew and revitalize local, state, national and international efforts

to protect and maintain respect for the environment and all resources;
and
WHEREAS, Earth Day 2015 activities and events will educate all citi-
zens on the importance of acting in an environmentally sensitive fashion
by recycling, conserving energy and water, using efficient transporta-
tion, and adopting more ecologically sound lifestyles; and
WHEREAS, The overriding mission of Earth Day 2015 is not to plan only
one day of events and activities, but to continue worldwide action to
protect all aspects of the environment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2015; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That all New Yorkers, in every community, will be recommit-
ted to undertaking programs and projects enhancing our state's natural
environment; and be it further
RESOLVED, That New York State hereby encourages our residents, busi-
nesses, schools and other institutions to use Earth Day to celebrate the
planet and commit to building sustainable societies; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body congratulate all the concerned
citizens of New York State who have embraced the responsible work of
protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.