Page 31 - MIN ECEM

Pagina 10 Diasabra 22 April 2017

GLOBAL/EUROPEAN UNION PRESS RELEASE-EARTH DAY 2017

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY

evidence.

This weekend, thousands will join the March
for Science in Washington, D.C. and sister
cities all over the world. They will march
because the alternative to making decisions
based on evidence is making decisions based
on emotions and political motives, which
can lead to dangerous outcomes. They will
march because the Trump administration
is proposing to defund critical scientific
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans research programs, which sound decision-
take to the streets, parks, and auditoriums making depends upon. They will march
to demonstrate the need for a healthy, because too many Americans – 70 percent
sustainable environment. Denis Hayes, the – cannot name a living scientist. They will
national coordinator, and his staff organized march because facts underpin our democracy
massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of and justice system, and because science is
colleges and universities organized protests the foundation of environmental and health
against the deterioration of the environment protection.
and environmental groups, Republicans and
Democrats, farmers and labor leaders united They’ll also march because science has never
for a common cause, creating a momentum been quite so threatened in the United States.
that led to the creation of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and the From the size of the inauguration to
passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and questioning the credibility of reputable
Endangered Species acts. media outlets, the Trump administration has Since an attack on science in the USA is an
shown that evidence does not carry much attack on the science in the rest of the world
Since 1990 when the Earth Day Network was weight. Cabinet members have called into as well, it is obvious that the European Union
created by Denis Hayes to promote Earth Day doubt the extent to which human activities and the United Nations play a pivotal role in
through a worldwide network of organizations, have contributed to climate change, which countering this negative trend.
Earth Day has grown to become the world’s has been well established in the scientific
biggest event, celebrated by more people than literature. Climate deniers are being An attack on science as a foundation
any other secular, religious or national day on considered as the president’s science advisor. for evidence-based decision-making for
earth. And the administration has proposed sustainable development goes against all
significant budget cuts to climate science basic principles accorded in the UN 2030
We now celebrate Earth Day on April 22, and technology research, such as to climate Agenda for Sustainable Development, its
every year worldwide, and as of 2009 by research at EPA and its Office of Research Sustainable Development Goals and the
virtue of the UN Resolution, A/RES/63/278, and Development; NOAA’s satellite division; Paris Agreement, which builds upon the UN
adopted on 22 April 2009, April 22 is now the Advanced Research Projects Agency Framework Convention on Climate Change-
officially International Mother Earth Day or (ARPA-E), which funds research in energy and for the first time- brings all nations into
simply Earth Day. technology development; and NASA Earth a common cause to undertake ambitious
science missions, among others.” efforts to combat climate change for the first
And then 2016 happened and a populist time and adapt to its effects.
candidate called Donald Trump gets elected Earth Day Network which coordinates the
president in the USA, who during his global celebration of International Mother It is precisely this Paris Agreement which the
campaign had promised he would get rid of Earth Day has partnered with the March for Trump administration seeks to undermine
regulation stifling economic activity and Science Initiative and as a natural extension completely by rolling back the commitments
promised the energy sector, in particular the of its own long running environmental made by the USA as the world's second largest
coal, shale oil and gas, and traditional oil education program and projects has made emitter of greenhouse gases at the Paris
and gas industry a reprieve from crippling Environmental and Climate Literacy the Conference (UNFCCC COP21).
environmental regulations. theme for 2017 to stress the need to counter
the attack on science as a tool for the Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation calls
So far President Donald Trump has delivered protection of the environment and our health upon the leaders in the European Union to
big time on his promises on rolling back and the health of Planet Earth, because as help safeguard the scientific groundworks for
environmental regulations in the USA. astronomers like to put it all we have is Earth, sustainable development and climate change
there is no Earth A and Earth B only one agreements and urges them to in collaboration
We quote Kelly Levin from the World Planet Earth. with spiritual leaders from all the world's
Resources Institute from her blog post of religions and the United Nations, safeguard
April 20, 2017, titled Attacks on Science The Environmental and Climate Literacy our commitments to all citizens of Planet
Threaten All of Us: and March for Science initiatives both are Earth and Planet Earth itself to preserve and
aimed at bringing the basic concepts of protect our environment, health, livelihoods
“Science and truth are under siege all environment science and in particular climate and biodiversity and natural resources.
around us. High-level decision makers in the change concepts to the masses through the
United States are casting doubt on scientific classrooms and halls of education in the USA,
understanding, defending false information but also through the mass and social media. Milton Ponson, president
and making decisions in the absence of Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation