The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) is leading the celebration of Earth Day today. Earth Day is a national observance along with 192 countries globally as a reminder to keep our environment beautiful and to safeguard our natural resources. The theme for this year’s Earth Day celebration locally is “Keep American Samoa Beautiful.”

As part of commemorating Earth Day 2014, AS-EPA has organized an array of activities starting with a Walk to Keep American Samoa Beautiful from Nu’uuli-Avau store at 6:00AM to the Su’igaula ole Atuvasa Park in Utulei. Immediately following the walk, a tree will be planted at the Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Park as a token of American Samoa’s commitment to Keep American Samoa Beautiful.

Following the tree planting activity, the general public is invited to a grand tour of the AS-EPA LEED Platinum Green Building. The building tour will highlight renewable energy components and features that makes the AS-EPA Office building a green building. There will be two scheduled tours, the first tour is from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and the second tour is from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. The public will have an opportunity to witness unique features of the building which is all about going green in terms of energy and water conservation.

AS-EPA Director Ameko Pato commented that, “I respectfully call upon our village and traditional leaders, faith based leaders, nonprofit organizations, business community, and everyone to work together in beautifying their respective villages by participating in group clean-up activities under the AS-EPA’s KASB Program.”

He further shared that the purpose of this initiative is to reinforce the importance of the environment to our daily lives and to reiterate the significance of our role as a community to keep our island clean and beautiful. Pato emphasized that “American Samoa’s natural beauty is among the best in the world and if we can change our habit of littering our Islands, American Samoa will enjoy the many benefits of a pristine environment.”

Pato said, “I would like to wish the American Samoa people a Happy Earth Day and encourage everyone to make Earth Day-Every Day. I would also like to extend a big Faafetai and Faamalo to our Keep American Samoa Beautiful adopters, sponsors, and partners for your commitment and support in promoting a clean and safe environment. Let’s all work together to Keep American Samoa Beautiful.”

SOURCE: ASEPA media release