Students pick Dr. Kalam as first green ambassador

Only few personalities can reside in the hearts and minds of millions of children across India, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is certainly one of them. An iconic and inspirational figure among the masses, Kalam is immensely loved and adored by the children of India. The testimony of his immense popularity among the children of India has come out in the form of his selection as the ‘Bharat ka Paryavaran Ambassador’.

The children and students from across the country have put faith in Kalam’s ability to save the world from the problem of climate change. After driving India successfully through its missile mission by working with ISRO and DRDO, the man is now entrusted with the job of saving the whole world from climate change catastrophe.  
      
With impeccable track record for his role as a scientific advisor to the Indian government, the ‘missile man of India’ would be best suited to lead the issue of environment through to the masses.  
 
His selection as the ‘Bharat ka Paryavaran Ambassador’ in a campaign conducted in 200,000 schools in India brings out his clean image and ability to inspire the youths in India.   
 
The poll, part of the CO2 Pick Right – Kaun Banega Bharat Ka Paryavaran Ambassador Programme, was organized by the Centre for Environment Education in partnership with ArcelorMittal, for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Among teachers, environmentalists, and celebrities, Kalam came out as a favorite winner and perfect choice of millions of students across India. 
 
With the selection, Dr. Kalam would be a spokesperson on the issues pertaining to environment and climate change. The massive selection process took 18 months time and drew the participation from 200,000 schools. ArcelorMittal, helping the CEE's work in the area of climate change and sustainability issues for the next three years, is the major thrust behind this entire and almost unique campaign. 
 
Conducted in 15 languages, the campaign was kicked-off on World Environment Day (WED) last year by Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The purpose was to spread awareness about climate change and allow people to pick the best possible choice for sustainable development.
  
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh felicitated Kalam in a programme here. Terming him as a leader, Ramesh asked Kalam to take the movement and people forward to bring awareness for climate change for a more sustainable future.
 
Pleased for being chosen, Kalam initiated an oath taking session for children to plant and nurture at least 10 trees each. Working on a global mission to plant 10 billion trees, he aims to plant 1 billion trees in India alone. Being a great believer of plating trees, he is sure to pull-off the set target of tree-planting across the world.
 
Dr, Kalam also stressed on the need of relying more on energy independence through renewable energy like solar, wind and hydro and bio-fuels. He urged the developed world to minimize their emission, and also stressed to bringing down fossil fuel application to 50 percent.
  
With science set to play a major role as a balance between economic development and ecological preservation, there could not have been any better choice than Dr. Kalam, echoed Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Govt. of India. 
 
With this coveted selection and faith of the people of India, Dr. Kalam is now entrusted to lead the youth to work for protection of the environment to generate an inimitable Indian model for sustainable development with growth.