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SAVE OUR PLANET… World Environment Day 2010 recognizes “Many Species, One Planet, One
Future.” Rwanda was the global host to this year’s World Environment Day, which focused
on biodiversity. As one of the many events marking the day, Oscar-nominated Hollywood
actor Don Cheadle and acclaimed Chinese wildlife photographer Luo Hong joined Rwandan President
Paul Kagame and UN Environment Program director Achim Steiner at Volcanoes National Park to
name endangered baby gorillas. In Russia, Prime Minister Vladmir Putin toured Moscow’s
Elk Island nature reserve where he fed baby elk with a bottle alongside a group of Russian
school children. When one boy called upon the leader and government to enforce ecological
laws more strongly, Prime Minister Putin asked the boy to send his ideas to the appropriate
government agency, stating, “I agree completely. Russia's nature is a gift from God, without
any exaggeration a wonder which we enjoy every day and deserves our protection.” In the
United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority held events to raise awareness
among children about the importance of water and energy conservation, while Cuba’s Environmental
Directorate called for greater protection of biodiversity, saying that the rate of extinctions
has increased 1000 times over that of 2002. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon echoed Cuba’s
call, asking the international community to avert the mass extinction of biodiversity
in soils, forests, oceans, coral reefs and mountains, as he stated, “Get involved,
speak out. Learn and teach others. Show leadership and help clean up. Reconnect with nature,
our life force. Together, we can develop a new vision for biodiversity: Many Species.
One Planet. One Future.”
A big round of eco-applause, all participants of World Environment Day. Let us all join
in dedicated efforts to live sustainably and in harmony with the divinely created co-inhabitants
that grace our Earth�