As we enter the 21st century, a new global economy draws nations ever closer. But our growing interdependence (21) on much more than technology and trade. For we are linked intrinsically by the physical and biological webs that (22) life on our planet -- and, increasingly, by the threat of their unraveling. Indeed, (23) we reach across borders and face this threat together, the next century may (24) an Earth in ecological crisis, with half of all (25) gone, and our grandchildren enduring deadly floods, drought and disease (26) by global warming.
When millions across America (27) the first Earth Day 30 years ago, our focus understandably was our own backyard. Our rivers were (28) on fire, and our skylines were disappearing behind a (29) of smog. American’s remarkable environmental progress in the years (30) is powerful testament to our national will, our technological prowess and our (31) in a better future. Protecting the environment is today a bedrock American value, (32) important to us as safe neighborhoods and good schools. What’s more, three decades of experience have (33) the naysayers wrong. Tending to the environment has not (34) our economy. (35) , our air and water are the cleanest they have been in a generation, even as we enjoy the longest economic (36) in our nation’s history.
America’s responsibility now, as we mark the first Earth Day of a new millennium, is to bring these lessons to bear against new, more (37) environmental challenges. We must look well (38) our own cities and countryside, make environment a core foreign policy (39) and provide the leadership needed to put all nations on a cleaner, more sustainable path to (40) .

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