www.RogerWendell.com
Roger J. Wendell
Defending 3.8 Billion Years of Organic Evolution^SM

Earth Day, Earth Hour, and the Earth Proclamation

Earth Day History:

Gaylord Nelson, former Governor and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, was Earth Day's co-founder Earth Day's other co-founder was Denis Hayes, then a prominent student leader John McConnell is credited with proposing the name "Earth Day" to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in early October 1969 The first Earth Day was in 1970 Earth Day is always observed on April 22nd (Back then it was considered a convenient time for students with pleasant weather usually the norm throughout most of North America) John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, was born in Dunbar, Scotland on April 21st (1838)!!

Click Here to take the Sierra Club's Earth Day pledge!!

For many years I ran a very small non-profit organization called Wilderness Defense. In addition to working on such issues as Two Forks Dam, the Denver Airport, and E-470 we also participated in a few Earth Day events when time permitted. Here's our application from the 1991 Denver Earth Day event...

Earth Hour:

Google's home page during Earth Hour 2008

The first Earth Hour was started by the World Wide Fund for Nature (Australia) and the Sydney Morning Herald on March 31, 2007. Back then it took place between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm and is estimated to have cut Sydney's consumption of electricity between 2% and 10% during that hour - with as many as 2.2 million people taking part. The second Earth Hour took place on March 29, 2008 between 8 pm and 9 pm local time. The idea was to turn off lights and non-essential electrical appliances for an hour - thus reducing lighting pollution and carbon emissions. The second Earth Hour coincided with the beginning of the National Dark Sky week here in America.

The Earth Proclamation: Over the years I've linked various versions of the Earth Proclamation only to later discover those pages having expired. In early 2008 I searched around a bit and was able to communicated directly with Jean Hudon, the first to have posted the Proclamation on the web (circa 1997).Jean is the Earth Rainbow Network's coordinator and Earth Concert 2000 initiator. Although I've received permission to post the Proclamation here, you can still view it, and the Earth Rainbow Network's pages at: http://www.earthrainbownetwork.com/Proclamation.htm

ANSE ST-JEAN, QUEBEC, CANADA

February 25, 1997

In preparation for the year 2000 millennial celebrations that will take place all around the world, an international effort has arisen to use this opportunity to create a sense of anticipation about the great changes that can occur for the well-being of all people and all life forms on Earth. We therefore present this Earth Proclamation to foster a more responsible vision of humanity's role for our future and ask that you help copy and spread it throughout the world.

Subject: Earth Proclamation Commitment

Personal Commitment

I, the undersigned,

aware that human activities are seriously endangering the fragile ecosystems of our planet, aware of the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, aware of the need to redirect my energies to protect and restore the global Web of Life, decide to begin right now to rethink my ways and values, and change what needs to be changed in myself and around me.

I want the year 2000 - a symbol for a New Beginning - to be the turning point in the local and global efforts now underway to create a better world based on equality, justice and a sustainable planet - a world in which Peace on Earth prevails.

Understanding that we are all individually responsible for the kind of future we will create for our children and for countless generations to come, I will participate in initiatives, locally and globally, to transform our world and protect this Jewel of Life we call Earth.

I agree with this Earth Proclamation and personally commit myself to do all that I can to spread it throughout the world and help make our shared dream of Peace, Love and Harmony on Earth come true.

Signed on the _____ of _________ 199__

This page will remain here indefinitely. Please share it with others. You may also email your commitment by cutting the text between the above horizontal lines then pasting it in the body of an E-mail to Global Visionary. Then cut the subject line from the top of the e-mail body, paste it in the subject line, fill in the blanks and add whatever comments you'd like. Your comments are most welcomed!

If everyone reading this for the first time decides to introduce one more person, everyday, to this common goal hereby described, millions of people will have a chance to make this personal commitment by the year 2000.

If you are interested to know more about this initiative, please visit the new Earth Concert 2000 Web site and the Earth Rainbow Network page.

Thank you for your time and contribution to this common global effort.

Most sincerely, Jean Hudon

Earth Day Calendar Problems...

It has never failed to amaze me how many calendars list the most obscure little holidays yet never want to devote any ink to Earth Day! Over the years I've written various calendar publishers asking them to reconsider. This year I did something a little different by adding a suggestion about Earth Hour as well. I'll post the publisher's response (if I ever receive one!). - Roger J. Wendell

Dear At-A-Glance,

I still own and enjoy using your DayMinder brand "Executive's Weekly/Monthly Planner" each year but am always disappointed to see no mention of Earth Day (April 22nd). Although I, myself, am keenly aware of this annual observation it would be helpful if you'd list it in your DayMinder to help others remember. What the heck, your DayMinder clearly lists such important holidays like National Boss Day, Administrative Professionals Day, and the province of Ontario's Civic Holiday - so why not Earth Day? And, while you're at it, you might want to consider listing the 3rd international observation of "Earth Hour," in your 2009 edition, if you're willing to push the envelope even further!! Either way, thank you for considering my proposals and I look forward to your response...

Sincerely,

Roger J. Wendell
Golden, Colorado, USA
April 17, 2008

Google, on the other hand, has always been great about promoting anything Earth friendly or sustainable. At left is the logo they used during Earth Day 2008. And, of course, Google also paid great tribute to Earth Hour just three weeks earlier...

Click Here for my page on Earth Friendly things and ideas!

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