THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, BEYER, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BUXTON, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, FARRY, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HARHART, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HESS, M. KELLER, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MICOZZIE, MILLER, MILNE, MIRABITO, MUNDY, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, SWANGER AND VULAKOVICH, MARCH 1, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 1, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the hour between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March

27, 2010, as "Earth Hour" in Pennsylvania and directing that

all nonessential lighting in the State Capitol Building and

the Governor's Residence be turned off during that hour.

WHEREAS, In recent years, environmental organizations have

encouraged the public to live a more "green" existence; and

WHEREAS, The World Wildlife Fund (WWF®) has made an intensive

effort to educate the public on carbon footprint reduction; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, the WWF® initiated a global event known as

"Earth Hour" to raise awareness of environmental issues, such as

climate change, pollution and conservation of natural resources;

and

WHEREAS, An individual, business, monument or governmental

entity may participate in "Earth Hour" by turning off all

nonessential lighting during the designated hour set by the

WWF®; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, the first "Earth Hour" was initiated in

Sydney, Australia, where more than 2.2 million citizens and

thousands of businesses turned out their lights for one hour;

and

WHEREAS, In 2008, "Earth Hour" became a global event with

more than 35 countries and 400 cities from all seven continents

participating; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the number of countries and cities

participating in "Earth Hour" rose to 88 countries and more than

4,000 cities with estimates suggesting that more than 1 billion

people participated; and

WHEREAS, World-renowned monuments, such as the Golden Gate

Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the

Great Pyramids, have also participated in "Earth Hour"; and

WHEREAS, The city skylines of Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Tel

Aviv have all dimmed their lights in recognition of past "Earth

Hours"; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has long encouraged the

implementation and usage of environmentally friendly practices

by stressing the importance of conservation of natural

resources, pollution control, alternative energy cultivation and

the need to reduce reliance on foreign oil sources; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth will take another positive

environmental step by participating in "Earth Hour" and join

many individuals, businesses, monuments and governmental

entities that have chosen to place a concerted effort on saving

the planet for future generations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

hour between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 27, 2010, as

"Earth Hour" in Pennsylvania and direct that all nonessential

lighting in the State Capitol Building and the Governor's

Residence be turned off during that hour.