Ottawa, Ontario – World Environment Day, commemorated each year on June 5, concerns all of us directly. According to the MP for Miramichi, Tilly O’Neill Gordon, it is one of the principal vehicles to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political action and attention.

"There are so many little things we can do to celebrate World Environment Day, including walks, bicycle parades, concerts, planting trees and recycling and cleaning campaigns," said O’Neill Gordon.

World Environment Day was launched by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Under the theme 'Many Species. One Planet. One Future', this year’s event will celebrate the incredible diversity of life on Earth as part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

"Let’s take the opportunity on World Environment Day to look at the state of our environment in our communities. Let's take the time to think about what each one of us must do and start working together now to preserve all life on Earth," added O’Neill Gordon.