It’s the time of the year when the world examines the state of its surroundings. Commemorated each year on 5 June, the World Environment Day stimulates global awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The theme selected for 2006 is Deserts and Desertification and the slogan is Don't Desert Drylands! The slogan emphasizes the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40 per cent of the planet’s surface. This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world’s population which has surged to 6.5 billion from about 2.5 billion in 1950. The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 is being held in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria in northern Africa. The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development. It is also aimed at promoting an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. As the celebration is a people's event, colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns are held all over the world. World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
