EARTH DAY NETWORK CALLS ON TEAM USA TO TAKE ACTION FOR EARTH DAY 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Resick 202-518-0044, ext. 21 [email protected] Earth Day Network Calls on Team USA to Take Action for Earth Day 2010  Athletes for the Earth™ Program to Engage Olympic and Professional Sports Figures WASHINGTON, DC, February 16, 2010 – Today in honor of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Earth Day Network officially launches its Athletes for the Earth™ program. This Earth Day 2010 initiative calls on Olympic and professional sports communities to act as ambassadors for the planet in the fight against climate change. During the Olympic Games, Earth Day Network will invite athletes from around the globe to become inaugural members of the Global Athletic Advisory Committee. As environmental ambassadors, athletes will commit to driving their communities, teammates and fans to take action on behalf of the planet. Simultaneously, Earth Day Network asks members of Team USA to sign a petition demanding that U.S. Congress pass ambitious and comprehensive climate legislation in 2010. The e-petition is located at Earthday.net. “Athletes have the unique ability to reach and motivate all generations to take action on behalf of the planet,” said Kathleen Rogers, Earth Day Network President. “We are thrilled to have such prominent athletes petition the U.S. Congress to pass climate legislation in 2010. Since 1970, Earth Day has activated individuals and organizations to strengthen our relationship with the planet. The need to address this issue has never been greater.” Following the Olympic Games, the Global Athletic Advisory Committee will showcase their continued support in the fight against climate change by collaborating and participating in Earth Day 2010. Earth Day Network will deliver the petition to Senate and Congressional leadership in advance of Earth Day 2010. Earth Day has always been a launch pad for environmental advocacy, providing an entry point into environmentalism and serving as an important avenue for civic action. The Earth Day 2010 campaign aims to engage vital and diverse communities, like artists and athletes, to take an active role in combating climate change. Earth Day 2010 Activities Global Days of Service Environmental service is a cornerstone of annual Earth Day activities. Earth Day Network is mobilizing its broad domestic and international community to encourage acts of environmental service in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. At the core of this service program is the Billion Acts of Green® initiative, an effort to collect impactful environmental actions from individuals, corporations and governments to send a message to world leaders for urgent, meaningful change for the planet. Earth Day Network is coordinating large and small-scale projects—from tree plantings to large-scale light bulb switch-out campaigns, home energy efficiency retrofits, school greenings and water projects, all geared to lower carbon footprints. In conjunction with community organizations, and national, regional and local governments worldwide, actions include broad-based participation by diverse cultures and ethnicities, faith-based organizations, seniors and a global college campus campaign. Actions will be counted toward a Billion Acts of Green®. Global service activities have already begun, but a major series of service projects will be held the weekend before Earth Day – April 17-18, 2010. Global Day of Action Without a fair and aggressive climate agreement resulting from COP15, the Global Day of Action on Earth Day will act as a referendum on climate change. As one voice, the world’s citizens will call on global leaders to address the need for urgent action to combat global warming. In the United States, Earth Day Network insists Congress pass comprehensive climate legislation by April 22, 2010. Internationally, Earth Day Network calls on individuals to demonstrate a commitment to the planet and future generations by holding leaders accountable for the current state of the environment. Global Day of Conversation Mayors and elected officials throughout the world will be asked to adjourn and join their constituents to discuss climate and how to make their communities and the world more sustainable. This Global Day of Conversation will illustrate the commitment of millions to make the natural environment a priority for 2010 and beyond. Global Days of Celebration On the weekend of April 24, in major cities around the world, hundreds of thousands of citizens are expected to commemorate Earth Day’s achievements with large-scale events. The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is home to the annual flagship event. Rabat, Morocco and several other major cities will host official events featuring musical talent, speakers and eco-villages where attendees can learn how to adopt green practices in their daily lives.  Arts for the Earth™ Arts for the Earth™ calls on the creative community to be ambassadors for the planet, communicating to their audiences the ever-growing threat of climate change. Arts for the Earth™ will:

• Invite artists in multiple disciplines to create works of art to be publicly displayed or performed for Earth Day 2010.
• Nurture museum sustainability and encourage sustainable themes and practices in contemporary art.
• Engage artists to support Earth Day 2010 through public service announcements, opinion articles and direct action initiatives.
• Give awards for notable environmental art projects and for commitments by art institutions.

About Earth Day Network Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Our campaign and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. Earth Day Network is a 501(c)3 organization located in Washington, D.C.

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