STAND UP, TAKE ACTION initiative to see plantation of 100mn saplings
BANGALORE: The Art of Living, in association with United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), United Nations Environment program (UNEP) and Sri Sri Institute of Agriculture Science and technology has launched a massive initiative to encourage people to stand up and take action towards environmental sustainability. The initiative called the ‘Mission Green Earth’ envisages plantation of at least 100 million saplings across the world to help reduce global warming and protect the environment.
The idea is to encourage and motivate people to join hands towards a pollution free clean and green environment, as without a mass awareness and involvement no remedial measure can save the ecosystem.
It is said that the average person utilizes oxygen from 16 trees to survive his/her lifespan. We therefore invite every human being to see this as an opportunity for offering these trees back to Mother Nature.
As part of the global initiative, the Art of Living has committed to plant 100 million trees between July 16, 2008 and October 16, 2008 in different parts of the world. Plantation drives inviting every one across the globe to join hands and participate in this humanitarian initiative to save our mother earth will be held by the Art of Living volunteers. The idea is not just to plant trees but also nurture them till they are strong and bearing. The trees will be planted in villages, wasteland, farms, along the river banks, coastal areas, hills, roadside, railway track sides, private houses, public places, thermal stations, coal mines, military areas, educational institutions and office premises.
We have already started planting trees in different parts of India and have drawn up a plan for a massive plantation drive across India on the Independence Day on August 15, 2008. In Karnataka, the target is to plant 10 million trees. Selection of trees may be made according to the agro climatic conditions of each province. Indigenous trees, fruit trees, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, forest trees, mangroves along the costal belt, avenue plantation trees, garden trees seedlings, shrubs etc. may be used for the plantation. You can get these seeds from government departments like forestry, agriculture, horticulture, landscape companies, nurseries etc.
Through this initiative, we are calling upon people to Stand Up and Take Action. All over the world, 100 million people will first take the action of planting at least one tree and then special STAND UP, TAKE ACTION events will be held all over the world between October 17 to October 19 2008. In these events, participants will stand up for two minutes and take a public pledge in support of Mission Green Earth reaffirming that they care for humanity.
The STAND UP, TAKE ACTION initiative is a follow-up to STAND UP & SPEAK OUT campaign in 2007. The Art of Living mobilised over 6.5 million people across the globe to Stand up & speak out against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Art of Living and UNMC have been working together to realise the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.