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This Month from Cliff
Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the children of the earth. If we spit upon the ground we spit upon ourselves. This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth… So love it as we have loved it. Care for it as we have cared for it. And with all your mind, with all your heart, preserve it for your children….
Chief Seattle
IN HONOR OF THE EARTH
These powerful words spoken two centuries ago by the highly respected Chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes not only evidence his wisdom and vision, but they also announce the reality of what has come to pass. For, through carelessness, neglect, and ignorance, we citizens of the earth have endangered our precious home. When there is the global alteration of seasons and temperatures and precipitation, when there is a deterioration of the atmosphere and in the natural landscape of whole regions, when there is a decline in the ability of indigenous life forms to survive --- we must know that something is wrong and that something we are doing or not doing or allowing to be done is responsible. We all are aware of the examples that all is not right with the earth and those who dwell there. As our science and technology and curiosity and, yes, even our necessity cause us to look towards other environments which may possibly sustain human life, we have the obligation to try to correct and to stop the environmental challenges facing the earth --- and all of us.
Because RCC is committed to raising public awareness about the need to move forward toward an environmentally sustainable future, the Faculty Senate of Rockland Community College, the RCC Student Government Association, and the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees have passed resolutions supporting the College's adoption of The Talloires Declaration 10-Point Action Plan and The American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
The Talloires 10 Point Action Plan lists the following commitments:
- Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development
- Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability
- Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship
- Foster Environmental Literacy for All
- Practice Institutional Ecology
- Involve All Stakeholders
- Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches
- Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools
- Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally
- Maintain the Movement
Therefore, RCC will be enhancing and broadening its initiatives to more fully address these goals. Further, it is important that we at Rockland Community College step forward to celebrate Earth Day and publicly to pledge our commitment. To that end, on behalf of Rockland Community College I will sign the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment at Earth Day Ceremonies on April 22, 2008. In addition, RCC will dedicate a tree that has been graciously donated by Matterhorn Nursery. The tree will bear a plaque inscribed with the following words:
Dedicated in honor of the Earth
RCC Earth Day
April 22, 2008
It is my hope that we will all make a personal pledge to honor the Earth, to respect her --- and to protect her --- not just on April 22 but every day. The quality of our present lives and the possibility of our future depend on it.
April 08
