Rwanda named global host of 2010 World Environment Day
Coordinated by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) every year on June 5, World Environment Day aims to be the biggest global celebration for positive environmental action. In 2009, people in more than 80 countries registered activities. This year's global host will be Rwanda, "an African nation that, despite big challenges, is seizing the multiple opportunities possible from Green Economic policies", to quote UNEP's Executive Director Achim Steiner.
The Government of Rwanda has decided that the culmination point of the celebrations will consist of the 2010 Kwita Izina "gorilla naming" ceremony, that is held annually at the foot of the Virunga mountains. This year's theme is "raising global awareness of biodiversity conservation as we give names to our baby gorillas". Other activities during the celebration week will include community service (umuganda), a bicycle race, a conservation conference, the launch of community projects and a community party.