Bermuda?s 4,000 civil servants are being urged to leave the car at home and take an environmentally friendly way to work today.

Leading the charge is Assistant Cabinet Secretary Warren Jones who will rise at 6.30 a.m. to run the four miles from his Warwick home.

He said the day of action is intended to highlight the issue of sustainable development and hopefully lead to more lasting efforts towards conservation.

?It is our hope that by making the sacrifice of personal transportation on one day, the seed will be planted that this is something that is not just possible, but sustainable even if only on one day each month,? Mr. Jones said.

?Although transport is not the only sustainability issue we must consider in Bermuda, it is the most visible and therefore the best means of drawing attention to sustainable development.?

Cabinet Office staffers have also been challenged to find new ways they can conserve energy and operate by sustainable practices at work.

?This includes turning off air conditioning overnight, turning off lights when we leave the office, using energy efficient bulbs or reusing and recycling paper whenever possible,? Mr. Jones said. ?These simple acts either in the office or at home will conserve energy, lower costs and preserve precious natural resources.?

Deputy Head of the Civil Service Judith Hall-Bean said yesterday that she intended to catch the ferry from Rockaway in Southampton in order to do her part today.

She invited other public officers to join her on the ride.

?I am here today in my capacity as Deputy Head of the Civil Service to encourage all public servants, i.e. Civil Servants, Industrial Workers, Teachers, Principals, Police, Prison and Fire Officers to join us in this positive action,? she said. Ms Hall-Bean pointed out that some Government buildings are already equipped with shower facilities and that Government would be looking at installing more such facilities in order to encourage more people to arrive at work by their own steam.

One civil servant has already found that being environmentally savvy can also pay health dividends.

Maryellen Goodwin, who works at the Environment Ministry, said she had pledged in April to pedal to work everyday.

?I lost 30 pounds and my health has improved,? she said.

She has also cut down on her fuel and repair bills while helping reduce pollution and traffic congestion.

Other civil servants have pledged to take the ferry and bus or car pool today but how popular the initiative would be remained open yesterday.

?We don?t know how many civil servants will take part but we will be happy with ten percent,? Mr. Jones said.