HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - PROCLAMATION - 04/15/2008 - PROCLAMATION DECLARING APRIL 2008 AS WORLD GEOGRAP r
PROCLAMATION
City of Fort Collins
WHEREAS, the question "Who Name erica is a learning tool to champion understanding
of how the geographic naming of America in western civilization opens local windows for worldwide
learning, helping energize youth's thirst for planetary knowledge and combat the deterioration of literacy
in science, history and literature, and
WHEREAS, on April 25, 1507, at Ville St. Die-France, the German cartographer Martin
Waldseemuller published the first map of the globe with 12 time zones, to depict a new continent, as a
separate land mass not of Asia or Africa, and a new ocean known now as the Pacific; and
WHEREAS, "America" first appeared on the coast of South America, known today as Brazil-
Uruguay-Argentina, to honor Florentine astronomer-navigator Amerigo Vespucci, who voyaged across
the Atlantic for Spain and Portugal; and
WHEREAS, The America500 Birthday Extravaganza (2007-2012), a 5-year global education
initiative, is sponsored by concerned citizens serving as the Organizing Committee, recognized by mayors
in 50 states and by the U.S. Congress to champion the national platform "Bring Home The Spirit Of
History In Your Town" as a local window to worldwide learning that inspires creativity in youth, explores
our hometown's story, expands the economy for the arts and tourism; and
WHEREAS, the America500 Organizing Committee, mayors nationwide and representatives in
the U.S. Congress are acting to celebrate this monumental occasion with the gift of "Who Named
America?" to improve public knowledge of planetary history and cartography, based on the America500
framework of astronomy-math, geography, climate-botany, transportation and cultural settlement-
migration.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Doug Hutchinson, Mayor of the City of Fort Collins, do hereby
proclaim April 2008 as
WORLD GEOGRAPHY MONTH
and encourage all citizens of this city and government agencies to support the America500 Birthday
Extravaganza in its mission to give people in our nation the opportunity to understand how America was
named.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Fort Collins
this 15th day of April, A.D. 2008.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk