UNITED NATIONS
Press Release SG/1749
26 February 1971
SECRETARY-GENERAL SIGNS EARTH DAY PROCLAMATION
The Secretary-General, U Thant, signed today an Earth Day Proclamation for the celebration of Earth Day on 21 March 1971 -- the vernal equinox, or first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
The observance of Earth Day was initiated last year by the City of San Francisco. The Proclamation has already been signed by a number of eminent personalities, including Col. Buzz Aldrin, United States astronaut; Luther H. Evans, former Director-General of the Untied Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Miss Margaret Mead, anthropologist; Miss Estelle Feldman, Chairman of the Commission on Man and Environment of the 1970 World Youth Assembly, and Chief S. O. Adebo, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
The Secretary-General has also agreed to issue a message in connection with the observance of Earth Day, and to attend a private ceremony at United Nations Headquarters at which the Peace Bell will be rung. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, 21 March (1900 GMT), the hour of the signing of the United Nations Charter at San Francisco on 26 June 1945.
The Text of the Earth Day Proclamation is as follows:
"Whereas: A new world view is emerging; through the eyes of our Astronauts and Cosmonauts we now see our beautiful blue planet as a home for all people, and
"Whereas: Planet Earth is facing a grave crisis which only the people of Earth Can resolve, and the delicate balances of nature, essential for our survival, can only be saved through a global effort, involving all of us, and
"Whereas: In our shortsightedness we have failed to make provisions for the poor, as well as the rich, to inherit the Earth, and our new enlightenment requires that the disinherited be given a just stake in the Earth and its future -- their enthusiastic cooperation is essential if we are to succeed in the great task of Earth renewal, and
"Whereas: World equality in economics as well as politics would remove a basic cause of war, and neither Socialism, Communism nor Capitalism in their present forms have realized the potentials of Man for a just society, nor educated Man in the ways of peace and creative love, and
"Whereas: Through voluntary action individuals can join with one another in building the Earth in harmony with nature, and promote support thereof by private and government agencies, and
"Whereas: Individuals and groups may follow different methods and programmes in Earthkeeping and Earthbuilding, nevertheless by constant friendly communication with other groups and daily meditation on the meaning of peace and goodwill they will tend more and more to be creative, sensitive, experimental, and flexible in resolving differences with others, and
"Whereas: An international EARTH DAY each year can provide a special time to draw people together in appreciation of their mutual home, Planet Earth, and bring a global feeling of community through realization of our deepening desire for life, freedom and love, and our mutual dependence on each other,
"Be it Therefore Resolved: That each signer of this People Proclamation will seek to help change Man's terrible course toward catastrophe by searching for activities and projects which in the best judgement of the individual signer will:
Press Release SG/1749
26 February 1971
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"peacefully end the scourge of war
"provide an opportunity for the children of the disinherited poor to obtain their rightful
inheritance in the Earth
"redirect the energies of industry and society from progress through products...to progress through harmony with Earth's natural systems for improving the quality of life
"That each signer will (his own conscience being his judge) measure his commitment by how much time and money he gives to these purposes, and realizing the great urgency of the task, he will give freely of his time and money to activities and programmes he believes will best further these Earth renewal purposes. (At least 9 percent of the world's present income is going to activities that support war and spread pollution. Ten percent can tip the balance for healthy peaceful progress.)
"Furthermore, each signer will support and observe EARTH DAY on March 21st....(Vernal Equinox -- when night and day are equal throughout the Earth) with reflection and actions that encourage a new respect for Earth with its great potentials for fulfilling Man's highest dreams; and on this day will join at 1900* Universal Time in a global EARTH HOUR -- a silent hour for peace....."
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* Time changed to moment of the Equinox in 1973
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PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE EARTH DAY PROCLAMATION
Original Signers 1970-71, More signers 1990-96
1. Alexander B. Grannis
New York Assemblly
2. Judith Hollister
The Temple of Understanding
3. Luther Evans
Former Director General of UNESCO
4. Estelle Feldman (Ireland)
1970 World Youth Assembly
5. David R. Brower
Friends of the Earth
6. Arvid Pardo
Ambassador, UN Mission to Malta
7. Margaret Mead
Anthropologist
8. Eugene McCarthy
U.S. Senator from Minnesota
9. John Gardner
Common Cause
10. Mike Gravel
U.S. Senator from Aaska
11. Hugh Scott
U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
12. Buzz Aldrin
American Astronaut
13. S. O. Adebo (Nigeria)
President of UN Assembly
14. U Thant (Ceylon)
United Nations Secretary General
15. Maurice Strong (Canada)
UN Environmental Programme
16. Y. Fukushima (Japan)
Environmental Scientist
17. Rene J. Dubos
Environmental Scientist
18. Lubos Kohoutek (Czechoslovakia)
Astronomer
19. Buckminster Fuller
Inventor, Scientist, Scholar
20. Mark Hatfield
U.S. Senator from Oregon
***21. John Denver
Singer
22. Robert Muller (France)
Assistant Secretary General United Nations
23. Edward Abramson
Chairman, Earth Day 1990
24. Isaac Asimov
Writer
25. Aly Teymour (Egypt)
United Nations Chief of Protocol
26. Anatoly N. Berezovoi (Russia) Cosmonaut
27. Cynthia Lennon (United Kingdom) Artist
28. Stan Lundine
Lieutenant Governor, New York
29. David Dinkins
Mayor of New York City
30. Oscar Arias
President of Costa Rica
31. Audrey McLaughlin
Leader, NDP, Canada
32. George Fernandes
Minister of Transportation, India
33. Carlos Salinas
President of Mexico
34. Yasir Arafat
President of Palestine
35. Yehudi Menuhin
Musician, Violinist
***Signatures 21-35 were added 1990-96
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