Whereas, The central role of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving problems of an economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian character; and,

Whereas, In September 2000, the United States and 189 other countries, agreed on eight Millennium Development Goals to meet the needs of the world's poorest; and,

Whereas, The seventh Millennium Development Goal seeks to integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs that reverse the loss of environmental resources as well as biodiversity; and,

Whereas, The United States has demonstrated its commitment to the sustainable development efforts, alongside many other countries, that create and implement development strategies in areas that include access to clear water and sanitation services, conservation and environmental stewardship, and protecting marine and freshwater resources; and,

Whereas, The United States must continue to work with other United Nations agencies in order to provide a coordinated multilateral effort to assess the loss in environmental resources and achieve further progress towards global sustainable development; and,

Whereas, The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), in cooperation with other organizations, has declared "Environmental Sustainability as an Essential Tool for Poverty Alleviation" as its theme for the 2008 United Nations Day commemorations; and,

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2008, as United Nations Day in the state of Michigan.