Senator Hassell-Thompson Celebrates April 22nd as Earth Day

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson reminds all New Yorkers that April 22^nd is Earth Day and encourages everyone to make a commitment to protecting the planet, ensuring clean air and fresh water for generations to come. 

“The condition that we leave our environment in is going to be one of our greatest and most lasting legacies, and it is up to each and every one of us to do our best to improve upon past environmental practices,” said Senator Hassell-Thompson.  “By working together to ‘Go Green,’ we can protect the health of our residents and their communities.  Additionally, through the advances of green technology, we will create countless jobs and economic development opportunities.” 

In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin declared April 22^nd as Earth Day.  A promoter of environmental issues, Nelson struggled for years to thrust the evidence of environmental degradation into the political mainstream.  He organized a nationwide grassroots demonstration to allow people throughout the country to speak and express their concern for the land, rivers, lakes and air.  This event brought the nation together and led to the creation of Earth Day.  Eventually, the passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws followed.  Today more than 1 billion people around the world participate in Earth Day activities each year. 

For more information on how to make a difference and live green, go to the Department of Environmental Conservation website at http://www.earthdayny.org/.

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