U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
95/04/12 NEWSLETTER ON EARTH DAY 25 
 
 
 
 
EARTH DAY 25 UPDATE 
 
#5 (April 12, 1995) 
 
 
OVERSEAS FOCUS: EARTH DAY IN EUROPE 
 
Plans are underway in U.S. Missions throughout Europe to promote 
environmental stewardship in honor of the 25th anniversary of Earth Day:   
	 
	Embassy Paris (John Kyle Boice) will involve the broader French 
community in this year's Earth Day by inviting over a 100 people to 
participate in the post's Worldnet session on the "State of the World in 
1995".  The Embassy is also looking to improve its recycling program 
(initiated last year by intern Michael Goltzman) which, according to 
Ambassador Harriman helps "to ensure our government becomes more 
efficient and our work places safer and healthier". 
	 
	Embassy Prague (Williams) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of 
Earth Day by highlighting Vice President Al Gore's initiative called 
Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE).  
The Czech Republic will formally sign the GLOBE agreement with the 
United States on April 20th.. Additionally, a GLOBE training conference 
was held in Prague from April 3-7.  The embassy will use the momentum 
generated by these two events to promote the GLOBE program in the period 
leading up to Earth Day and beyond. 
 
	Embassy The Hague (Dornbush) is devoting attention to 
environmental concerns throughout the spring season, from March to June.  
Over 100,000 children in the Netherlands planted 300,000 trees for "Tree 
Day" on March 22.  On April 21, the Ambassador will hold a Mission-wide 
town meeting to inaugurate a recycling drive to raise awareness among 
Mission employees.  And leading up to World Environment Day (June 5), 
the Embassy plans to take steps to implement the GLOBE program. 
	 
	Among a number of other efforts by U.S. Missions in Europe, 
Embassy Lisbon - USIS (Bagely), in conjunction with a major Portuguese 
NGO and the University of Lisbon, is sponsoring a conference on solid 
waste disposal, urban planning, clean water, oceans and environmental 
technologies. 
 
 
 
 
BEYOND EARTH DAY 
 
	On April 24th at the Department of State exhibit hall, Under 
Secretary for Global Affairs Timothy E. Wirth, will host a USG-NGO 
gathering and forum to recognize the many accomplishments and innovative 
efforts on behalf of 25 years of Earth Day as well as chart future 
directionsfor global stewardship of the environment.  Climate change, 
biodiversity and coral reef conservation, and building sustainable 
communities will be among the issues to be discussed. 
 
INDIGENOUS GROUPS TO BE HONORED FOR THE 25TH 
	 
	International Attention: the Delegation of the United States of 
America to the Commission on Sustainable Development is having a 
reception and special presentation celebrating the environmental 
ingenuity and sustainable practices of indigenous communities of the 
Americas.  The event scheduled for April 20 at the United States Mission 
to the United Nations in New York City, will include remarks from 
representatives of native groups, a special film, exhibits and a dance 
performance.  
	 
	A Native American Earth Day Program entitled "A Gathering for the 
Earth" will take place on the National Ellipse in Washington DC from 
April 21-23.  The program features a special sunrise service on Friday 
followed that afternoon by a national video conference with native 
elders and scientists to be broadcast to schools, colleges, 
universities, and communities.  Activities on the agenda for the weekend 
include traditional dancing, story telling, special remarks as well as 
musical appearance by Joanne Shenandoah, Oneida.   Project Earthlink is 
sponsoring the event, with coordination from the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture along with the other government agencies and Haskell 
University.  (Contact: Linda Greczy, Tel. 202-401-3806, FAX 202-401-
3812). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact Michael Schneider or Robb Hirsch in the Office of Global Affairs 
at the Department of State for more information: Tel. (202) 647-6240 
Fax. (202) 647-0753.  Internet: global@state.gov  (Internally, 
use:"Global Issues" as the unclassified e-mail address.  Send messages 
to this address if you know others who want to be included on 
distribution list for updates).