Art of Living to plant 100 million trees

New Delhi: At a press meet in Delhi on October 3, the Art of Living launched its ‘Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action’ campaign, in partnership with the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Ministry of Environment & Forests (Government of India) and Sri Sri Institute of Agriculture Science and Technology.

Panelists at the Mission Green Earth launch/ Photo credit: UNMC

Mission Green Earth's goal is to plant 100 million trees across the world, to help reduce global warming and protect the environment.

The initiative also aims to mobilise a 100 million people, who will Stand Up across the globe between October 17-19,  2008 and renew their commitment towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In 2007, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of AOL, endorsed his commitment towards the fulfillment of the MDGs. Following the endorsement, AOL on Oct 17, 2007, made history by contributing 6.5 million members to the ‘Stand Up Take Action’ global call which urged their respective governments to fulfill their MDG pledge.

This year, Art of Living has taken up the seventh MDG to promote and support environment sustainability.

Stressing on the fact that the fulfillment of the MDGs will remain a dream without the active participation of people, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in a statement, “We will all have to join in together to eradicate poverty, bring primary education, health, hygiene, care for the environment and make this world a more beautiful place to be in. We must leave this world in a much better shape, than we inherited, for the upcoming generations.”

Minar Pimple with Shri I.K. Gujral, former Prime Minister and Swami Sadyojathah, AOL take the pledge/ Photo credit: UNMC

Eminent dignitaries at the press meet were Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign, UN, Lizette Burgers, Chief, Child Environment, UNICEF India, Alexander von Hildebrand, Regional Advisor, Environmental Health, WHO, former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra, Ms. Nupur Sharma, DUSU President, 2008-09. The event also included special guests who are the true inheritors of this movement –children from many Delhi schools.

The panelists pledged their commitment to this crucial endeavour and urged citizens to actively fulfill their part in this campaign.

Swami Sadyojathah from the Art of Living said, “Twenty-first century is the century of interdependence. Individuals, countries, governments, NGOs have come together for this noble cause. The aim is not only to plant trees but also to nurture them.”

Sahil Arora, Head boy, DPS Mathura Road stressed on the need for the youth to stand up collectively and ensure that the MDGs are fulfilled. “What we need today is for 1 billion to stand together as one and make sure that we and our Govt act now and fulfill this pledge,” he said.

Harshul Gupta, Vice Head Boy, DPS Mathura Road, students of Apeejay School, Chetna Malhotra, Class 8 and Aarushi Gaur, Class 9 and Debanka Nandi from Gyan Bharti School also urged everyone to act and save the planet.

Mr Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign said, “UNMC values the continuing partnership we enjoy with the AOL family globally and we look forward to the achievement of the MDGs together.”

After the screening of Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action 2008 audio visual, there was a tree planting ceremony by the children, who are the inheritors of this movement, and the dignitaries, who are the guardians of this legacy. 

Special Guest of Honour, Shri I K Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, blessed the movement and participated in the tree planting ceremony, and was honoured in a special ceremony. The event also saw the reading of the Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action Pledge, where everyone stood together and pledged their commitment to this pressing global issue.

Dinesh Ghodke and Khursheed Batliwala, directors of WAYE, an NGO working with the youth all over the globe on MGE-SUTA 08 said: "Along with youth and women empowerment, we need to look at planet empowerment. Sustainable development can happen only by making or encouraging something that sustains us; in case of planet earth, it's the trees. Very simply, individuals need to plant and adopt more trees. And also stop cutting trees."

As part of its MGE campaign, the Art of Living volunteer network has already started tree plantations across India involving all stakeholders – individuals, corporates, government, NGOs, thus making this into a meaningful social movement.

Even internationally, the Art of Living network is spearheading this movement and seeing major breakthroughs across the continents in Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe.