Environment day with UPF

5th of June 2008.

Environment Day with UPF (Universal Peace Foundation).

The day started early for Mission Clean Up Nepal, UM Nepal and UPF. About 50 volunteers woke up with the sun, armed with plastic bags and the desire to keep our parks green and clean. The mission for the day is to go clean up Ratna Park, in busy Kathmandu.

In the afternoon, packed in a couple of taxis full of music and camping gear, UPF drove up to Tilkot, 10 kms away from Nagarkot and Baktapur. On the way to the top of the mountain, we stopped at Godawari nursery to pick up about 100 seedlings for planting. Godawari used to be a distillery for plants oils and medecine.Cardamon, lemon grass, aloe vera, pine plant for cancer medecine, trees and a few flowers got put on top of the roof.

By night time, the happy group set up the tents under Tilkot's giant trishula. Kali baba welcoming us into his home, we sat and relaxed, enjoying music from Om Bikram Bista, the first nepale pub musician. For a late dinner, the traditional nepale thali got cooked, and we enjoyed the food under the beautiful Himalayan sky.

We woke up with the fog rolling through the mountains. The planting could start with the sound of drumming and Bikash didgridoo. Even the military group in training next to the camp came to help. All together, one by one the seedlings got put into the ground.

After the planting, we walked to a school in construction. Soon the brick building will be welcoming neighboring kids for classes.

Bricks by bricks, seed by seed, UPF is here for a greener future.

For more information on the activities of Universal Peace Gathering visit the web site here: http://www.universalshanti.org/