NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2008

For More Information & Contacts Call:

Susan Wild, Communications Director

(803) 436-2500 or Page - (803)905-6541

swild@sumter-sc.com or www.sumtersc.gov                    

PROCLAMATION 

"EARTH DAY” 

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, with the goal of inspiring environmental awareness and encouraging the conservation, protection, and appreciation of our nation’s natural resources from its inception, Earth Day has enlisted the collaboration of millions of individuals, gathering support from environmental groups, federal, state and local governments, various private industries, and concerned private citizens. The Earth Day movement has created a groundswell of public support, leading to the protection of our nation’s land, air and water resources. In 1990, Earth Day went global and garnered the support of 200 million people from 141 countries in an effort to raise international awareness for this essential cause. By 2000, Earth Day had enlisted more than 5,000 environmental groups from around the world, reaching out to nearly 1 billion people in more than 180 countries and the Sumter community proudly recognizes all who participate in Earth Day, for their dedication to taking a proactive role in shaping the future of our environment and in protecting our earth’s precious natural resources.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Mayor of the City of Sumter, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2008 as

"EARTH DAY”

in the

CITY OF SUMTER

and encourage all citizens to reflect on the decisions we make and how they affect the world around us and to take a moment to consider what each of us can do to ensure the long-term sustainability of the environment.

                                          Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Mayor