Theme is "Go for the Green"

Contact:  Ricki Gardenhire 502-564-5525

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 14, 2008) – Kentucky State Government’s Earth Week 2008 campaign encourages Kentuckians to take a leadership role in protecting the environment.

The 39th Earth Day will be celebrated across the United States and internationally on Tuesday, April 22.

Robert Vance, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), will kick off Earth Week in Kentucky on Wednesday with an Earth Day flag-raising ceremony at the Capital Plaza Tower building in Frankfort at 8:30 a.m. EDT. 

State government’s Earth Week theme – Environmental Leadership: Go for the Green – encourages Kentuckians to take a look at their daily habits that contribute to our environment’s declining health. 
Vance said taking a leadership role in making environmentally safe choices in the home and at work can pay dividends.

“It’s important that adults continue to make decisions that reflect a respect for our world and that teach our children and grandchildren the importance of environmental stewardship,” Vance said.  “Our children can learn from daily activities, like recycling, conserving water and replacing light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. We can find ways every day to demonstrate the healthy habits that protect the environment,” he added.

Dozens of activities – cleanups, nature hikes, free waste collections, technology demonstrations and seminars – have been organized across Kentucky. A special Web site, www.earthday.ky.gov, contains a schedule of events and Earth Day tips and resources. Events organized by EPPC and some of its Earth Day partners include a tour and demonstration of a newly-constructed “green” residence in Lexington, the Environmental Quality Commission’s annual Earth Day awards in Frankfort and project announcements across the state.