| Union Pacific Helps Students Go Green on Earth Day | ||||
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Houston, Texas – Union Pacific Railroad volunteers celebrated Earth Day today by teaching Hilliard Elementary School students to go green to protect the environment. The fourth- and fifth-graders learned to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by planting tree seedlings inside recyclable plastic containers, which they will later plant in their backyards at home. The hands-on activity helped volunteers explain that small efforts can make a big difference to the environment. Union Pacific presented each class with a plant and the students committed to caring for it throughout the year. In addition, a green team made up of Union Pacific volunteers, teachers and students planted four trees on the school grounds to help clean the air, protect the environment and beautify the school. Trees for Houston, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, promoting and planting trees, donated the trees and provided volunteers to ensure the trees were planted properly. "The volunteers taught our students that everyone can help conserve the world's natural resources at home, school, work or play," said Victor Nash, principal at Hilliard Elementary. "The plants and trees helped make us greener and will remind us that every day is Earth Day." Union Pacific volunteers recognized Nash and several teachers with an Earth Day plaque in appreciation of their willingness to allow students to celebrate Earth Day with Union Pacific. "Planting the seeds in these young minds today will help protect the environment now and for years to come," said Marsha Woodard, Union Pacific senior legal assistant. Protecting the environment is part of every job at Union Pacific. For example, employees are creating and implementing world-class energy conservation techniques that enable Union Pacific to move more freight trains with less fuel. Union Pacific now moves one ton of freight 830 miles on one gallon of diesel. Union Pacific is committed to protecting the environment now and for future generations. |