Earth Day Founder Denis Hayes Endorses Darcy Burner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sandeep Kaushik, (206) 355-9230
Earth Day Founder Denis Hayes Endorses Darcy Burner
Bellevue (April 22) - Denis Hayes, the founder of Earth Day and one of the nation's most respected environmentalists, today announced his enthusiastic endorsement of Darcy Burner, who is running for Congress in Washington State's 8th Congressional District.
"I have known Darcy for quite some time and have personally witnessed her deep commitment to doing what is right when it comes to facing up to the serious environmental challenges that we face as a planet," Hayes said. "I know that in Congress, Darcy will do more than play lip service to environmental concerns. Instead, she will be a true leader and a great champion of preservation and sustainability."
Hayes dropped out of Harvard to launch the first Earth Day in 1970, and continues to serve as chair of the Earth Day Network. The success of the first Earth Day, which drew 20 million participants who gathered around the country to promote environmental awareness and sustainability, marked the birth of the modern environmental movement. Thirty-eight years later, half a billion people worldwide participate annually in Earth Day Network events.
"Denis has demonstrated unparalleled leadership over the years in protecting our increasingly fragile environment and combating the growing threat posed by global warming," Burner said. "His support for my campaign means the world to me."
Congressman Dave Reichert, Burner's Republican opponent, steadfastly refuses to concede that global warming is caused by human activity. Reichert has received significant financial support from oil and timber interests, and while some other concerned Republicans have done so, Reichert has declined to join the more than 140 congressional co-sponsors of legislation sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Jay Inslee that would protect millions of acres of national forests under threat of logging, mining, and drilling - including 2 million acres in Washington State alone.
"Darcy Burner gets what needs to be done, and more than that, she knows how to get there. She believes in offering substantive solutions," Hayes added. "She will be a vote we can count on and a clear voice on the critical environmental issues that are important to each of us. She will take on the tough political battles we need to fight if we are to bring our planet back into balance. She is the real deal, and a true environmentalist."
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