Gospel Music Legends, Organic Florist, United Nations Sing in Harmony for the Environment

Gospel Music Legends, Organic Florist, United Nations Sing in Harmony for the Environment

'United Nations, Together We Can' Is Today's 'We Are the World'

SAN FRANCISCO, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Gospel legend Edwin Hawkins and organic entrepreneur Gerald Prolman want the entire planet to sing in perfect harmony, especially when it comes to protecting Mother Nature.

"United Nations, Together We Can," an environmentally-conscious gospel song written by four-time Grammy winner Hawkins, will debut with a 500-voice choir on Sunday, June 5 at San Francisco's City Hall at the Closing Ceremony of the United Nation's World Environment Day (www.wed2005.org).

The song will serve as the United Nation's Environmental Programme's new theme song, and will be presented to UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and a host of international dignitaries.

"It is time for the world to sing a different tune about the environment," said Prolman, CEO of Organic Bouquet (www.OrganicBouquet.com), and the song's executive producer. "What better way to inspire environmental activism than through a spiritually uplifting song?"

Organic Bouquet Inc., the official florist for World Environment Day, commissioned Hawkins to write an inspirational, non-denominational song to help increase public awareness about environmental issues.

Hawkins, whose "O Happy Day" is the best selling gospel song in history, brought together the biggest stars in the gospel world to create a cause- oriented recording the likes of which has not been produced since the recording of "We Are the World" 20 years ago.

Gospel luminaries who unleashed their powerful voices for the project included Daryl Coley, Richard Smallwood, Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Kim Burrell, Virtue, Three Bridges, LaShun Pace and the Williams Brothers.

"For the sake of our children, we must heal the planet. The environment is God's gift to us," said Hawkins. "We should take responsibility to maintain the natural resources we were given. I contributed this song to help raise awareness of the need for change before it is too late."

Sunday's ceremony caps a weeklong series of events showcasing environmental solutions, which will culminate in the signing of the San Francisco Urban Environmental Accords. Similar to the Kyoto Accords, these accords call for international cooperation to reduce and reverse the human contribution to global climate change and environmental degradation of air and water resources.

"For the first time in human history more people now live in cities than in rural areas. Cities already consume 75 percent of the planet's natural resources," according to Jared Blumenfeld, event organizer and Director of the San Francisco Department of Environment. "We intend to ignite an urban eco- revolution."

"United Nations, Together We Can" will be given to the United Nations to promote environmental events around the world. Proceeds from the sale of the CD -- which will be available via iTunes.com starting June 7 and at stores across the country during the same week -- will be donated to A Community of Unity, a non-profit led by Hawkins that raises funds for San Francisco Bay Area charities.

In addition to commissioning the song, Organic Bouquet is also sponsoring the world's first international symposium on ecological flower production, which is being held in conjunction with the World Environment Day events.

Established in 2001, Organic Bouquet (www.OrganicBouquet.com) has pioneered the organic flower market. As a leading voice in the organic movement, it is raising public awareness of critical environmental issues, using sustainably grown flowers as a catalyst for change.

Additional Resources:

* About the song: www.TogetherWeCanTheSong.org * About organic flowers: www.OrganicBouquet.com * Press room: www.StrausCom.com/OrganicBouquet

Source: Organic Bouquet Inc.

CONTACT: Michael Straus, President of Straus Communications, LLC, +1-415-777-1170, or +1-415-519-8343, or Michael@StrausCom.com

Web site: http://www.wed2005.org/

Web site: http://www.togetherwecanthesong.org/

Web site: http://www.organicbouquet.com/

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