"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” ― Chinese proverb.
Rotary International has always promoted care for the environment and 2017-2018 was marked by a special project, “Trees that Feed”. Rotary International President-elect, Ian H.S. Riseley, challenged every Rotary Club to make a difference, by planting a tree for each of its members, between the start of the Rotary year, on 1 July 2017 and Earth Day on April 22, 2018.
Planting an orange tree at the Pegasus:
(above l-r) Mrs. Judy Grace Hylton – Rotary Asst Gov. Jamaica South East,
Mr. Michael Buckle President RCOK, Mr. Robert Leger District Governor,
Mr. Peter Hillary Gen. Mgr, Jamaica Pegasus and Mrs. Leger.
The Rotary Club of Kingston (RCOK) embarked on the “Trees That Feed” project, starting with District Governor Robert Leger and RCOK President Michael Buckle planting an orange tree at the Pegasus Hotel. Planting a tree is a lifelong investment an important part of every community. Our streets, parks, playgrounds and backyards are lined with trees that create a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment.
Their action was reinforced by the RCOK members, which managed to plant approximately one hundred and thirty fruit trees, mostly in the corporate area. Trees increase our quality of life by bringing natural elements and wildlife habitats into our urban settings.
“It is my hope that the result of that effort will be far greater than the environmental benefit that those 1.2 million new trees will bring,” Riseley said. “I believe the greater result will be a Rotary that recognizes our responsibility, not only to the people on our planet, but to the planet itself.”
This project made the case that protecting the environment and curbing climate change are essential to Rotary’s goal of sustainable service. Environmental degradation and global climate change are serious threats to everyone and by bringing awareness, people’s approach to climate change can shift.
“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking."― Wangari Maathai
So, let’s ALL choose to CARE for the environment!
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Rotarians collect young seedlings for planting