5 June: World Environment Day

As 2006 is the International year of Deserts and Desertification, the World Environment Day to be commemorated on 5 June will also center its celebrations on the importance of protecting drylands.

This year's World Environment Day slogan is Don't Desert Drylands ! This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world's people who are more vulnerable members of society. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) main organizer of the events, announced that the main international celebrations of this year's World Environment Day 2006 will be held in the city of Algiers, Algeria.

The main objective of the celebrations of the World Environment Day is to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and action.

This day is also useful to examine the state of the environment and consider carefully the actions which each one must take to preserve life on earth. This date also seeks to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

For more information on how to participate in the celebrations and to learn more about this year's theme, please visit the UNEP site dedicated to the World Environment Day at http://www.unep.org/wed/2006/english/index.asp