Go Green on Martin Luther King Day
By Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve.” Those words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have inspired millions of Americans over the years to step up and serve. And they’re the words that come to mind each January, when we honor Dr. King’s legacy on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Each year, people across the country come together for volunteer service, to strengthen their communities and make a difference for the people around them.
On Monday, January 16, the EPA is honoring Dr. King by calling on volunteers to participate in environmental service projects and help make it a Green MLK Day. In recent years, I’ve joined EPA employees and community volunteers for neighborhood cleanups, urban greening efforts and other environmental service projects. This year, we’re hoping you will mark the MLK Day of Service with a service project that protects health and the environment in your community.
One way to get involved is to participate in projects that help reduce waste, or cut water and energy use in your home and community. Take a look at our WaterSense, WasteWise and Energy Star websites for more information, or check our Green Living page for ideas.
Young people can help their communities raise awareness and address environmental issues through our OnCampus ecoAmbassadors program. This program helps students develop valuable leadership and project management skills as they improve the quality of their campuses and surrounding communities.
There are countless ways to be part of a Green MLK Day: Start using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Learn about composting and give it a shot in your own backyard. Pick up litter at a local park or field. Organize a “green club” in your workplace, school or community.
EPA’s Pick Five website can help you find simple ways to clean up the environment in which you live, work and play.
Finally – be sure to tell us about your Green MLK activities. EPA Staff will be tweeting live from various volunteer activities, and you can follow along through @EPALive and @lisapjackson on Twitter. Share your own service experience by tweeting with a #greenMLK hashtag. If you have any photos from what you’re doing, we invite you to share them on our Flickr page.
I look forward to hearing about how you spent this year’s MLK Day of Service taking on environmental challenges in your community.
Jan 13, 2012 @ 15:09:49
nice article
your articles are soo environment friendly
Jan 13, 2012 @ 19:43:46
I plan to celebrate MLK day just like I celebrate everyday of my life by trying to make the enviroment better each day! This year I am going to get a bee hive started, plant more fruit trees, continue to have a big garden that I share the produce with to friends and neighbors and continue to improve on living green!
Jan 14, 2012 @ 09:32:04
“One way to get involved is to participate in projects that help reduce waste, or cut water and energy use in your home and community.”
totally agreed..nice article
Jan 14, 2012 @ 10:47:09
There are countless ways to be part of greatness. like Organize a “green club” in your workplace, school or community. Young people can help their communities raise awareness and address environmental issues. Each year, young people across the country come together for volunteer service, to strengthen their communities and make a difference for the people around them. That way they can inspire millions of Americans over the coming years to step up and serve.
Jan 16, 2012 @ 19:31:59
they need to do away with the EPA and start doing what is right for the people in this country. If it wasn’t for the EPA our country would be better off and we would have drilling of oil instead of depending on foreign oil
Jan 16, 2012 @ 22:02:00
Dear Ms Jackson:
Go Green on King Day, is an excellent idea! Would you be willing support and sponsor a, Go Green on Washington Day and a Go Green on Lincoln Day?
It would be both their birfdays.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 09:56:18
Great article and good to see people taking these issues seriously!