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Surgeon General Sign-On Letter Extended Until October 15!

Take action by Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Surgeon General Sign-on Letter

Thank you affiliates and RRs for your efforts thus far on the Surgeon General organizational sign-on letter. We are thrilled to already have over 100 organizations on the letter, including 28 NWF affiliates (see list below). We have decided to keep the letter open until October 15, as we are trying to secure additional endorsements from the health care field. If any of your affiliates would like to sign-on, please let your RR know by October 15.

As many of you know, today’s children rarely hear these four words, “Go Outside and Play.” The National Wildlife Federation has written a petition urging the Surgeon General to issue an official “call to action” to recommend that American children and families engage in daily outdoor play. In the past 20 years, time spent outside has declined by 50%, while the rate of childhood obesity has tripled and other health conditions linked to sedentary behavior and disconnection from nature have increased. Today’s kids spent 44.5 hours a week plugged into some type of electronic media. The troublesome reality is that American childhood has moved indoors. Unstructured outdoor play can help children be more physically active, creative, healthy, and well-balanced.

We need people like you to take action and tell your friends and family to speak up in support of this important cause!

Affiliates: Thank you again for your attention to this important cause!

Alabama Wildlife Federation (AL)

Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AR)

Association of Northwest Steelheaders (OR)

Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CT)

Conservation Council for Hawaii (HI)

Conservation Federation of Missouri (MO)

Delaware Nature Society (DE)

Environmental League of Massachusetts (MA)

Florida Wildlife Federation (FL)

Georgia Wildlife Federation (GA)

Indiana Wildlife Federation (IN)

Iowa Wildlife Federation (IA)

Kansas Wildlife Federation (KS)

Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LA)

Minnesota Conservation Federation

Natural Resources Council of Maine (ME)

North Carolina Wildlife Federation(NC)

North Dakota Wildlife Federation (ND)

Planning and Conservation League (CA)

Prairie Rivers Network (IL)

Renewable Resources Coalition (AK)

South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SC)

South Dakota Wildlife Federation (SD)

Texas Conservation Alliance (TX)

Vermont Natural Resources Council (VT)

Virginia Conservation Network (VA)

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WI)

Washington Wildlife Federation (WA)

Surgeon General Sign-on Letter (pdf)

Sample Action Alert on Surgeon General Citizen Petition (pdf)

Surgeon General FAQ (pdf)

Check back and stay updated! Thank you for your support.