The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation:

Ministerial Statement - Green Actions Encouraged on Earth Day 2011

I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize April 22 as Earth Day, a time for us to reflect on our actions and recognize the need for ongoing environmental education and continued action. Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day is recognized as the birth of the modern environmental movement and is based on the premise that all people have a right to a healthy, sustainable environment.

The theme of Earth Day 2011 is A Billion Acts of Green, with a focus of generating a billion acts of environmental service throughout the world. The act can be a very simple one such as washing laundry in cold water or using a reusable shopping bag. Whatever the action, Earth Day is an opportunity to demonstrate the power of everyday individual acts of green. Collectively, these acts will not only have an impact on our individual homes and communities, but on global carbon emissions.

To celebrate Earth Day, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board is participating in a number of activities to promote the importance of waste reduction and encourage families across the province to cut their waste in half. The MMSB is participating today in an Earth Day Fair at the Fluvarium where they will host a 3R family hike focused on learning simple Reduce, Reuse, Recycle habits from nature. In addition, the MMSB has been promoting the Get-to-Half at School message all week long at Topsail Elementary and will be teaching youth at Villanova Junior High to “rethink their way to half.” The MMSB is also promoting Earth Day messages through creative online applications and social media, encouraging people to “give it up” for Earth Day.<p>

We all must work together and do our part to help create a healthier and cleaner environment for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. There are many young Newfoundland and Labradorians all over the province who show their commitment to the environment every day through the promotion of recycling in their homes and their classrooms. Our children of today are the environmental leaders of tomorrow.

I encourage everyone to make the extra effort this Earth Day to do something positive for our environment. All of our actions, big or small, do make a difference. We have an obligation to ourselves and to future generations to protect and conserve our environment. A healthy environment means healthy people, vibrant communities and a better province for all of us.

2011 04 21                                                   1:45 p.m.