U.S. ENVOY TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN AT SEA WORLD

Jakarta, Apr 17 (ANTARA) - U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R Hume will talk about the importance of preserving Indonesia's underwater ecosystems with schoolchildren, who will tour of Sea World in Jakarta on April 18, 2009, it was reported here Friday.

The U.S. embassy informed that after the tour, Ambassador
Hume will dive into the shark tank, and children from Jakarta-area
elementary schools and cancer care centers will participate in Embassy staff volunteer-organized educational environmental games.
According to the embassy, although Earth Day has traditionally been a holiday that conjures forest and land-based conservation efforts, with two-thirds of the world covered in water, and with the forthcoming World Oceanic Conference (WOC) in Manado next month, this year's U.S. Embassy Jakarta's Earth Day celebrations are aimed at calling attention to Indonesia rich underwater biodiversity.
In partnership with Sea World Indonesia, the U.S. Embassy has organized environment-themed youth-oriented Earth Day activities.
Approximately 100 Indonesian children from East and West Jakarta public elementary schools and "Rumah Kita" Indonesian Care for Cancer Foundation will participate in the event, the embassy said.

In addition to making remarks, and participating in some of the children's activities, U.S. Ambassador Cameron R. Hume will also dive into the Sea World Indonesia shark aquarium, it added.

U.S. corporations, including Starbucks, General Motors, Coca-Cola, and McDonalds are generously sponsoring the event, providing transportation, books, games and refreshments for the participating children. ***3***