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French explorer completes environment expedition across Russian wastes:Posted By: Joshua Boyles Sun Mar 19, 1:30 PM ET MOSCOW (AFP) - A French explorer arrived on Moscow's Red Square with his 10 sleigh dogs at the end of an 8,000-kilometre (5,000 mile) expedition through some of Russia's most intractable territory in order to increase environmental awareness.The Franco-Russian team led by veteran French environmentalist Nicolas Vanier arrived to a colourful reception from girls in folk costume and balalaika music, after crossing mountain ranges, tundra and the near impenetrable forests known as the taiga, hopping from one remote community to the next. French President Jacques Chirac sent a message of congratulation to Vanier, calling his expedition an "example of a renewed relationship with nature and a rediscovered pioneering spirit". "You have delivered a message of hope and courage to millions of French and Russians, and millions of schools have become aware, thanks to you, of the great fragility of natural spaces," Chirac wrote in a message published by his office. Film shot by an accompanying camera crew on the expedition will be shown in some 35,000 French schools as part of an ecology awareness campaign. Vanier said on arrival in Moscow the enterprise was aimed at showing how greatly the environment was in need of aid. The expedition started out from the shores of Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia and crossed from east to west at an average speed of 80 to 100 kilometres (50-60 miles) a day, pausing for only three days in Tomsk. Local Siberian trappers and reindeer breeders helped to map out the trail. Milder temperatures in recent days melted much of the snow on Moscow roads, but a special snow trail was laid down on Red Square in front of the Kremlin Sunday to provide a fitting finale to the odyssey, with the French ambassador on hand to offer congratulations from President Jacques Chirac. Chirac's entourage said the president would meet Vanier when the explorer returns to Paris. The president thanked French and Russian partners involved in the expedition and local and regional authorities that had assisted it. The expedition was sponsored by the French foreign ministry. On Sunday, Vanier also thanked Russia's gas giant Gazprom and the Russian emergencies ministry for their support. The enterprise was also expected to produce a children's book and a movie showing the journey from the point of view of Vanier's lead-dog, Gao. Courtesy Of: Yahoo! News The information reported above is property of Yahoo! inc. and reprinted or modified with legitimate permission. We thank Yahoo! inc. for the kind cooperation with us and other shareholders. |
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