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ISA Encourages Participation in Global Olive Wreath Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
For More Information:
Sonia Garth
Marketing Coordinator
International Society of Arboriculture
217-355-9411, EXT. 27
ISA Encourages Participation in Global Olive Wreath Project
CHAMPAIGN, IL (June 1, 2004)- The International Society of Arboriculture encourages its members to participate in the "Global Olive Wreath" Project. The goal of the project is to plant a "wreath" of trees around the planet to honor the Olympic homecoming to Greece in 2004, and global environmental stewardship.
The Athens Environmental Foundation (AEF), a non-profit organization, began the project with the goal to involve Olympians in helping communicate the Olympic spirit to the world while promoting sport and environmental responsibility. Already Olympians have joined schoolchildren in 50 different countries, including the United States and Greece, in tree-planting projects as part of the "Global Olive Wreath." The project is scheduled to continue until the Olympic Games begin in Athens, Greece on August 13, 2004.
Included in the goals of this project is to have a tree planting in every city along the route for the Olympic torch. The initial planting has already occurred in Ancient Olympia, Greece, where the torch began its journey. ISA hopes to increase participation in these events by encouraging members to participate in plantings in their cities. Plantings have already been scheduled for Mexico City, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. The remainder of the torch route includes:
| June 4- Sydney, Australia |
June 23- Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| June 5- Melbourne, Australia |
June 24- Geneva, Switzerland |
| June 6- Tokyo, Japan |
June 24- Lausanne, Switzerland |
| June 7- Seoul, South Korea |
June 25- Paris, France |
| June 8- Beijing, China |
June 26- London, UK |
| June 10- Delhi, India |
June 27- Barcelona, Spain |
| June 11- Cairo, Egypt |
June 28- Rome, Italy |
| June 12- Cape Town, S.Africa |
June 29- Munich, Germany |
| June 13- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
June 30- Berlin, Germany |
| June 15- Mexico City, Mexico |
July 1- Stockholm, Sweden |
| June 16- Los Angeles, CA, U.S. |
July 2- Helsinki, Finland |
| June 17- St. Louis, MO, U.S. |
July 3- Moscow, Russia |
| June 18- Atlanta, GA, U.S. |
July 5- Kiev, Ukraine |
| June 19- New York, NY, U.S. |
July 6- Istanbul, Turkey |
| June 20- Montreal, Canada |
July 7- Sofia, Bulgaria |
| June 21- Antwerp, Belgium |
July 8- Nicosia, Cyprus |
| June 22- Brussels, Belgium |
Jim Skiera, Executive Director of ISA, encourages ISA members to provide support by coordinating events in their areas. "Coordinators work with the local committees to identify the proper tree for the site, and assist with acquiring the tree(s), planting and maintenance."
Many other plantings are also occurring in conjunction with other environmental events. Colorado Springs, CO included an Olympic tree planting during their Arbor Day event. Present at this event were two Olympic gold medalists as well as Elaine Ingram Cheris, President of the United States Olympics Alumni Association. An olive tree planting will also occur in Athens, Greece on June 5, 2004 in correlation with World Environment Day. Jim Skiera, will be present at this event representing ISA's participation in this international project.
World Environment Day is a clean-up project initiated by AEF, and sponsored by the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee, and the United Nations Environment Program. The main event of the day is a beach and underwater clean-up exhibition headed up by marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau.
For more information on the "Global Olive Wreath" project visit the ISA website or go to AEF's website at www.athensenvironmental.org. You may also register your tree planting event on the AEF website. For assistance in becoming involved in the "Global Olive Wreath" project contact Sonia Garth, ISA Marketing Coordinator, at sgarth@isa-arbor.com.
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