Related stories

Let's Plant Trees in Greece

2008/01/10
text by Claire Cheng

Through March 2008, volunteers will plant trees at a site designated by the Greek Government called the “Olympia China Woods” to help restore the forests in the area. Volunteers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are expected to travel in small groups in advance of the flame-lightening ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games on March 25, 2008.

The site is about 500 metres from the sacred fire-collecting spot where the Olympic torch for the 2008 Olympic Games will be lit.

Volunteers will have an opportunity to participate in Olympic-related activities.

The programme was initiated by Green China magazine, which is sponsored by the State Forestry Administration, and is sponsored by www.noblechinese.com.

The programme was inspired by proposals from many readers of Green China, who expressed their desire to help Greece plant new trees on lands that were devastated by the 2007 fires near Athens, according to Li Zujiao, editor-in-chief of Green China.

“We watched the Greek fires from the beginning, and we were shocked that they got as far as the Peloponnesos Peninsula and destroyed the forest around Olympia, where the ancient Olympic Games originated,” said Li. “I couldn’t sleep after hearing from our readers. A strong desire was born to organize Chinese volunteers to plant tress in Olympia to help heal the scars left by the fire.”

In addition to planting trees in Olympia, volunteers will also visit the City of Athens, including the Panathinaiko Stadium, Temple of Athena Nike, the Theatre of Dionysos and many other historical sites in the ancient city.

The trip will cost 23,000 yuan (US$3,220) per person, which includes round-trip plane tickets, accommodation, meals, and tickets to scenic spots, guides and accident insurance.

和平橄榄会聚辉煌圣火

文/薛京晶

2008年3月24日，北京奥运圣火将在希腊的古奥林匹亚遗址举行采集仪式，奥运会的精彩序幕也随之拉开。取自希腊的北京奥运圣火将带着人类对和平、友谊、文明、进步的追求，展开“点燃激情传递梦想”的“和谐之旅”——穿越世界五大洲的21个城市和中国境内31个省、自治区、直辖市，最终抵达世界最高峰——珠穆朗玛峰。在圣火点燃之前，将有2008名中国志愿者远赴希腊古奥林匹亚圣火遗址创建“奥林匹亚中国林”，在那里种植下2008棵象征和平与希望的橄榄树，共同迎接北京奥运圣火点燃的辉煌一刻。

2007年，一场大火吞噬了古奥林匹亚圣火遗址周边的绿树，为了尽快恢复遗址周围的生态，帮助希腊在北京奥运会圣火采集前完成绿化，受希腊—中国经济贸易文化交流协会的邀请，北京贵人网络科技有限公司联合《慈善家》杂志社、环球活动网等多家单位，开展了“2008赴希腊创建奥林匹亚绿色中国林”活动，在2007年11月27日至2008年8月8日之间，招募2008名中国志愿者远赴希腊奥林匹亚遗址，创建由2008棵橄榄树组成的“奥林匹亚中国林”。2008年2月，首批中国志愿者即将奔赴希腊，展开恢复古奥林匹亚遗址周边生态环境和迎接北京奥运圣火的爱心、友谊之旅。

奥林匹亚中国林分为奥运冠军林、海峡两岸和平林、和谐家庭林、企业林等几个主题。距北京2008年奥运圣火采集地点约500米。参加此次活动的志愿者还有机会观看北京奥运圣火在希腊的取种仪式以及相关的大型文艺活动。

中国和希腊同为世界文明古国，两国的文化传统中也都蕴含着绿色和谐的精神。此次希腊植树之旅既是一个营造美好自然环境的绿色举措，也同样是一个创建世界和平的绿色行动，将会让更多的人了解北京，了解奥林匹克的精神渊源。



	Article featured in Business Beijing, February 2008 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Development & Reform Commission of Beijing Municipality, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Beijing Sub-Council)