Earth Month Declared At Area High School

Thelma Sardin |

Last week, Governor Pat Quinn declared the month of April as Earth Month in the State of Illinois. The announcement came after he gave a keynote address at the 3rd Annual Sustainable Schools Symposium at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS), 3857 West 111th Street. CHASAS, a Chicago public high school, opened in 1985 and has captured national attention as the premier model for secondary agricultural education.

Gov. Quinn also presented the 2011 Environmental Hero Awards to groups and individuals who have shown a strong commitment to the health and protection of the environment in Illinois.

The annual Earth Day observance is held April 22, however; Gov. Quinn is interested in expanding the mission of the day to the entire month of April.

Earth Month reminds us all that sustainability begins with us, right here in our own communities, Quinn said. Every day we must work to instill a green way of thinking and a green way of acting in our youth, our friends and our neighbors. Together we can ensure a cleaner and greener future for Illinois.

The event was hosted by the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council, the Chicago Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Chicago Public Schools, so that participants could exchange ideas that will enhance and promote green practices in elementary and secondary schools across Illinois.

During April, numerous state agencies will hold Earth Month events and programs to inform the public about the significance of conservationism and preserving natural resources. For more information about Earth Month activities, go to Green.Illinois.gov.

Quinn also recently urged Illinoisans to participate in Earth Hour. The international effort encouraged responsible energy practices by turning off non-essential lights for one hour during the last weekend of March.

Earth Hour was sponsored by World Wildlife Fund and was locally sponsored by ComEd. Residents were asked to turn off their lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to conserve energy.

In Chicago, landmarks like the Merchandise Mart, Navy Pier and Wrigley Field turned off lights. In Springfield the Governor's Mansion lights were dimmed. Internationally, more than 133 countries and thousands of cities are participated in the observance, according to the Associated Press.

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