Art of Living launches 'Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action'

New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) The Art of Living has launched its 'Mission Green Earth Stand Up Take Action' campaign under which 100 million trees will be planted globally, 100 million people will stand up against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals(MDG's).

The campaign was launched yesterday in partnership with the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Ministry of Environment&Forests (Government of India) and the Sri Sri Institute of Agriculture Science and Technology.

The campaign has a goal to plant 100 million trees across the world to help reduce global warming and protect the environment. The initiative also aims to mobilise 100 million people, who would stand up across the globe between October 17&19, 2008 and renew their commitment towards the MDG's.

In 2007, AOL founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar endorsed his commitment towards the fulfilment of the MDG's following which it 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 of the MDG's to promote and support environment sustainability. Stressing on the fact that the fulfilment of the MDG's would remain a dream without the active participation of people, 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." The campaign launch was supported by Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign, UN, Minar Pimple, Chief, Child Environment, UNICEF India Lizette Burgers, Regional Advisor, Environmental Health, WHO, Alexander von Hildebrand, former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra, DUSU President, 2008-09 Ms Nupur Sharma, and children. The panelists pledged their commitment to this crucial endeavour and urged the citizens to actively fulfill their part in this campaign.

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.

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.

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