WED News
Goodwill Ambassadors lend their support!
We are pleased to announce the upcoming Goodwill Ambassador designation of American actor and humanitarian, Don Cheadle. This designation will take place in Rwanda on WED and will be especially meaningful given his personal ties to the country from his starring role in Hotel Rwanda, 2004.
Rwanda gives WED participants two baby gorillas to name!
The ceremony of giving a name to a newborn human baby, commonly known as Kwita Izina, has been a Rwandan tradition for centuries. Three decades ago, the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks, and the people of Rwanda, decided to extend this ceremony to include the cherished gorillas of their country which make up 1/3 of the total gorilla population on the planet. The names attributed to these animals play a key role in the monitoring program of individuals and groups in the habitat. The naming ceremony, which was launched as a public outreach campaign in 2005, is aimed at ensuring the future of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and bringing awareness to the plight of all gorillas and their habitats.
In order that the global WED community can choose the final names, we have opened it up to a public vote in the categories of kid’s and people’s choice. The competition began on 18 May so vote and register this as a WED activity! The selections will be announced in Rwanda by UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Don Cheadle.
Join us in celebrating World Environment Day. Every year. Everywhere. Everyone.
Register your activity and Take A Stand for the Gorillas – we’ll donate USD$10 to gorilla conservation and protection for every registered activity
Help name a baby gorilla – Imagine your name sake running through the jungles of Rwanda!
Promo Video: