More than 2,000 people, mostly students wearing their school uniforms, gathered in Nepal's capital on Thursday in a bid to set a world record for the largest tree hug. Parliament members, office workers and even Buddhist monks also took part in the attempt, joining the students at a park on the outskirts of Katmandu. The participants said they were trying to set the record to celebrate the June 7th World Environment Day by spreading awareness about the importance of trees. ``Our goal is to set a new world record and at the same time spread the message that trees are important for the environment and everyone,'' said Thaneswor Guragai, who coordinated the event.
The previous Guinness World Record for most people hugging trees simultaneously was 936 people in Portland, Oregon, last July. Participants on Thursday held trees for two minutes as volunteers beat drums at the National Martyrs and Peace Park, on the northeast edge of Katmandu. The organizers of Thursday's event are sending photos, video, a signed statement from the Parliament members who were there and the names of the participants to Guinness, which will decide whether to recognize the feat as a new record.
Participants on Thursday held trees for two minutes as volunteers beat drums at the National Martyrs and Peace Park, on the northeast edge of Kathmandu.
“We are gathered here in our attempt to save the forests and make people aware that trees and forests are important for human civilization,” said Rajan K.C., who was among the 20 Parliament members hugging the trees and monitoring the event.
One of the participating students, ninth-grader Ganga Pandit, said she had planted samplings in the past but felt it was important to join the campaign to save existing trees.
The organizers of Thursday’s event will send photos, video, a signed statement from the Parliament members who were there and the names of the participants to Guinness, which will decide whether to recognize the feat as a new record.
Guragai said it would take about two months to get a recognition certificate from Guinness.
World Enviroment Day message...."Greener and Cleaner Planet"
Thousands of people took part in an awareness drive for environmental protection as part of the World Environment Day, which is celebrated every year on June 5 by the United Nations.
Students of Asian Institute of Management and Technology (AIMT) planting tree saplings at Assam State Zoo on the occasion of World Environment Day in Guwahati
The participants – including Parliament members, students, office workers and even Buddhist monks – gathered Thursday at a park on the northeastern outskirts of Katmandu.
Workers empty a sack of plastic bottles at a recycling workshop in Mumbai
Adjutant storks, an endangered species, sit on garbage at a dump on World Environment Day on the outskirts of Guwahati
A woman carries recyclable materials on her head as an Adjutant stork, an endangered species in the world, flies by at a garbage dump, on World Environment Day in Guwahati
Cambodian environmental activists perform to symbolise that wild animals are dead, during a rally to mark World Environment Day, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
People perform as they march along a street in Phnom Penh.
The signs read, "One tree one life" (R), and "Loss of forests is the loss of indigenous people's traditions" (C), and the banner reads, "42nd World Environment Day, all for environment"
Aww this is sweet. ><
not much trees to hug in sg
Originally posted by oatsy:not much trees to hug in sg
Uhh??? trees are everywhere in sg, that's why she's known as Garden City. Anyway, you don't have to hug many, just one will do to prevent jealousy from other trees.
Originally posted by oatsy:not much trees to hug in sg
Which part of Singapore are you living where there are no trees?
Originally posted by charlize:Which part of Singapore are you living where there are no trees?