CALIFORNIA GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

FIRST TELEVISED RADIO ADDRESS

Topic: Earth Day 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009

TRANSCRIPT

Oh hello.

This is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Welcome to a very special California Report, the first one broadcast not just on the radio, but also on video.

This week we are celebrating one of the most remarkable days of the year, which is Earth Day.

We get the whole world, not just California, not just America, but the whole world comes together to shine a spotlight on global warming, on clean air and clean water, on conservation, recycling and more.

1 billion people from 185 countries join us to celebrate our earth today and to protect it for tomorrow.

That’s what it’s all about.

Here in California, we take the spirit of Earth Day very very seriously.

As a matter of fact, we live Earth Day, every day.

We don’t wait for just one day a year.

That’s why we are the leaders in environmental protection.

We created a first-in-the-nation plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by the year 2020 and an additional 85 percent by the year 2050.

Just this week, our Air Resources Board approved the first in the nation Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

So I am very proud of what we are doing in this state.

This week, I traveled up and down the state to see some amazing things that were accomplished by ordinary people, and by companies in the private sector, not government.

For instance in Glendora, Wal Mart launched the largest commercial rooftop solar program of its kind in the world.

So I’m very proud of them.

Wal-Mart is doubling its solar installations.

And at Shaklee Corporation, which is a leading vitamin and food supplement company in Pleasanton, we planted the one millionth tree in the “Million Trees. Million Dreams” campaign.

And you know who planted this.

Ordinary people planted trees, individuals, in groups, in schools, in parks and neighborhoods.

They all came together and worked together to plant those trees. We are making California healthier.

That’s what Earth Day is all about.

Everyone can do something. This is the bottom line.

By adjusting the thermostat, unplugging unused electronics, using efficient fluorescent bulbs, carpooling, or buying recycled products, and the list goes on and on.

These are the kind of things that anyone can do.

Did you know that air-drying your clothes for 6 months saves 700 pounds of carbon dioxide?

You see the impact that you all have.

Keep the right tire pressure in your car and you will reduce gasoline costs by 4 percent.

Now maybe that doesn’t seem like much.

But listen to this.

If everyone in the country took this simple step, America’s oil consumption would drop by 800,000 barrels a day.

You get it?

That’s the power the individual has.

We don’t have to wait for government or anyone. We all can take action.

As you remember, I did a lot of action movies, but this is real life action.

So let’s all get involved with this.

I’m counting on you.

So thank you very much for watching, and for listening.