ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
March 7, 2012
Armenia Tree Project Hosts Community-Wide Events in Los Angeles Area
PASADENA, CA–On February 7, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) hosted a reception
at the Ararat-Eskijian Museum in Mission Hills as part of a three-day visit
by ATP Director Jeff Masarjian and Forestry Director Zack Parisa. This first
event was an update on ATP’s program accomplishments and plans for 2012. The
intimate affair allowed long-time supporters and those not so familiar with
ATP to learn about the organization and its important work in Armenia.
The following evening, ATP joined forces with the Armenian Engineers and
Scientists of America (AESA) to co-host a panel discussion on “Armenia’s
Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century” at Parsons in Pasadena. The
AGBU Young Professionals and Armenian Environmental Network (AEN) were also
part of the evening, inviting their membership to attend.
Presenters included Varouj Abkian, Assistant Director with the City of Los
Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, Robert Kurkjian, Principal Scientist,
Tetratech and International Environmental Consultant, Zack Parisa and Jeff
Masarjian. The topics discussed at the panel included “Environmental Issues
Related to Waste Water and Waste Management,” “Water: Armenia’s Abundant
Resource,” “Surface Mining: Pathways of Toxicity,” and “Building Resilient
Forests and Communities: An Armenian Experience.”
“This was the first of what I hope will be many collaborative efforts on the
part of Armenian organizations to inform the Diaspora of critical threats to
Armenia’s environmental integrity. We are at a crucial tipping point in
history, and the choices made today will have long-term consequences on the
quality of air, land, water, and public health in Armenia for generations to
come,” noted Masarjian.
“In addition to educating the Southern California community on ATP’s
activities in Armenia, we wanted to raise awareness about Armenia’s current
environmental situation,” said Hermine Mahmouzian, Southern California
Development Director. “We hope to organize events such as the one held at
Parsons in different areas around Southern California.”
Masarjian and Parisa also joined Anahit Gharibyan, Assistant to the
Development Director, at the Ararat Charter School (ACS) for a meeting with
educators to speak on a continued relationship between the ACS and ATP as
part of the Building Bridges environmental education program.
ATP’s mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees to improve
their standard of living and protect the environment, guided by the need to
promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the fewest resources first, and
conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP’s three major programs are tree
planting, environmental education, and sustainable development initiatives.
For more information about upcoming ATP events and how to get involved,
please call Hermine Mahmouzian at (310) 990-4371 or email
[email protected].