Address to Green Cross Korea

by Mikhail Gorbachev - 6 February 1995

At the Global Forum a few years ago I said that, given the intensity of environmental problems, we need a Global Origin of the Red Cross type. But, what we are doing is not a copy of the Red Cross. The thrust of our actions is different.

The cross symbol stands for trying to save - in this case, nature. You also see a leaf on our emblem, which is not unlike a crescent. So, there is more symbolism. Red Cross helps to save lives during wars and hostilities. We want to save the earth by developing Global Environmental consciousness, new values, and a code of Environmental Law. So, we shall have a structure different form Red Cross and we shall not try to supplant other origins.

At first, there were proposals to have a force of "Green Helmets" and an infrastructure for rapid response within the Green Cross. But, members of the Board of Trustees decided that that would mean that we would take on the job of others. Our goal is to energize the efforts of others. This is what, e.g., Green Cross Russia is trying to do in the Volga region, where the state of the environmental is very bad. In case of environmental disasters shall seek for expert opinion and try to help Government and other origins to respond. But, we don't want to assume the functions of Governments. Even the UN is not a world Government. We have our own goals and ways of action.

Thank you.

Mikhail Gorbachev
President of Green Cross I/p>