News from the Campaign
 

Together We Can Reforest The Earth - Yves Rocher auctions trees on eBay Canada to help save the planet

MONTREAL, 22 April /CNW Telbec/ - To fight the ravages of climate change, Yves Rocher and eBay have teamed up to support the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. From April 22 to May 1st, Canadians are encouraged to visit www.ebay.ca and place their bids on Yves Rocher's Plant for the Planet auction. Each bid will increase the number of trees planted in India, Brazil and Madagascar.

The number of bidders will determine how many trees will be planted, with one dollar equaling one tree planted. For those whose wallets won't necessarily be able to keep up with the auction action, it will be possible to purchase a tree for $1 on both www.ebay.ca and www.YvesRocher.ca to generate tree planting through Plant for the Planet.

Why Trees?
Trees are earth-saving organisms capable of storing more than 2 tons of CO2 during their growth, thereby limiting the various effects of global warming. The impact of deforestation extends not only to the climate but also to a loss of biodiversity and water reserves. To make up for the deforestation in the past decade alone, we would need to plant 130 million hectares, an area as large as Peru.

Yves Rocher believes that everyone should be able to plant a tree, whether they live in the country or in a bustling metropolis and have given people the following options to contribute:

1. Visit www.ebay.ca or www.YvesRocher.ca from April 22 to May 1st to participate in the auction. The more people bid the more trees will be planted!
2. People can purchase a tree for $1 to generate tree planting through Plant for the Planet on both www.ebay.ca and www.YvesRocher.ca.
3. On Earth Day, April 22nd, 5 per cent of all beauty purchases made on www.YvesRocher.ca will be donated to Plant for the Planet.
4. In 2008, Yves Rocher will donate $1 (or 1 tree) for every purchase of an Inositol Végétal skincare refill to Plant for the Planet.

Why India, Brazil and Madagascar?
These three countries have been severely affected by deforestation. By replanting trees in those regions not only will there be a positive impact on the climate, but it will also provide the people in those regions with sustainable economic opportunities.
On March 12, 2007 the Yves Rocher Group committed to planting 1 million trees over 3 years within the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign launched in 2006 by 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner and godmother to the Programme, Wangari Maathai.

The 1 million trees will be planted by Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) who were chosen for their long-standing and successful actions in reforestation on 3 continents: Asia, Africa and South America. By planting trees, Yves Rocher and the UNEP hope to demonstrate that it is possible to counter the negative effects of carbon emissions, therefore fighting global warming. "I am calling on everyone. We must all plant one tree for the planet," declared Jacques Rocher, Director of Sustainable Development, while planting the 1st tree at the official announcement of the Yves Rocher Group's commitment to the Programme in Nairobi.

To find out more about Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign visit: www.YvesRocherpromo.ca/plant, www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign, or www.ebay.ca
To place your bid, go to:
http://members.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=yves-rocher-f ondation

About Yves Rocher
Manufacturing products while respecting nature has been a guiding principle for Yves Rocher since its inception in 1959. The organization's objective has been to uncover the secrets of the plant world for use in its beauty products, within a sustainable framework. The company, founded in the Brittany region of France, believes that preserving the plant world is imperative for our survival.
Yves Rocher has 1600 Beauty Centres worldwide. Its official catalogue, The Green Book of Beauty, is distributed on five continents, in 90 different countries in more than 20 languages including a version in Braille.

NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca. Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Christina Hane, Director, Corporate Communications & P.R.,
Yves Rocher North America Inc.,
(450) 442-9555 ext. 2158;

Annie Claude Lachance, Communications Coordinator,
Yves Rocher North America Inc.,
(450) 442-9555 ext. 6309

Source:

CNW GROUP