Earth Day Network Blog Updates

Earlier today, the White House hosted the first ever summit on environmental education. This historic event was literally decades in the making and signified the level to which the issues of environmental education and green schools have become the topic du jour in communities nationwide. The EPA deserves credit for making the event happen, as does the Department of Education and the White House Council on Environment Quality.

Do you know any schools, classrooms, or students who might want to put their "green" awareness to the test? Tell them to participate in the Go Green Initiative Earth Day Contest!

In 2005, Richard Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to better explain the growing concerns and ramifications associated with a person’s prolonged separation from nature. Louv focused the majority of his attention on children in his bestseller book, “Last Child in the Woods,” and there’s good reason why: American children now spend 90% of their time indoors according to the EPA.

With Earth Day only one short month away, we are getting lots of requests for help with planning events, celebrations and actions across the world. Of course, dedicating a day to the earth and its health is one the most important things we can do for our environment. However, around here we often say that, “everyday is Earth Day,” and in that vein we wanted to help people plan not only their celebration for April 22^nd, but also give tips for celebrating the earth in the days leading up to Earth Day.

MobilizeU Guest Blog

By Amna Hasan

MobilizeU School Coordinator

Jinnah University for Women; Karachi, Pakistan

It all started with panic during exams.

There’s been another disappointing turn of events here in Washington. President Obama’s new budget proposal to Congress seeks to eliminate funding for the Environmental Education Program at EPA, the Environmental Literacy Grants program at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Bay-Watershed Education Training initiative also at NOAA.

Just as Congress was busy putting the kibosh on useful transportation policies like Safe Routes to School, Earth Day Network’s Green Schools Program was out in the real world promoting sustainable transportation solutions.

At its second annual conference, the green schools movement today witnessed an informed and passionate keynote from none other than Arne Duncan himself, the U.S. Education Secretary. In it, Sec. Duncan proclaimed that green schools are “engines of innovation” and “critically important” to paving the way for America’s educational system and student-body to be competitive in the 21st century.

Earlier this morning, Earth Day Network and several of its D.C. metro-area partners were honored for their work promoting the health and well-being of children and school nutrition in the District. Specifically, D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh hosted Earth Day Network staff and others for their success in achieving record growth and participation in the District's School Breakfast Program.

Yup, you heard right… The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is overhauling its nutritional guidelines for school meals and serving up some new healthier guidelines. First Lady Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and celebrity chef Rachel Ray recently announced the new guidelines during a visit at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandra, Virginia.