“Ohhh, this is going to be epic,” Annie thought as she read the invitation. She jumped up and ran to find LJ.

“Guess what, babes? Floriade is here again! I am so pumped. I can’t wait to get to the Netherlands to experience this once-in-a-decade world expo.”

LJ laughed and hugged her with one hand as he held his phone with the other, “hey Marvin, Annie wants to tell you all about Floriade. It starts in mid-April and runs through the first week in October. It is billed as a world horticultural exhibit, but it is so much more. Its primary focus is on demonstrating how to build sustainable green cities. Floriade also includes live music, visual arts, a woodland theater featuring children’s performances, and a food forum devoted to demonstrations on building a sustainable food supply for the entire planet. Here’s Annie, she’ll explain all, and perhaps you and Kathleen would like to join us.”

“Hey Annie, so tell me all about Floriade,” said Marvin.

“Hi, Marvin.Thanks so much for the opportunity to tell you about this important event. The first Floriade took place in 1960 in the Netherland, originally designed to highlight the art of horticulture, gardening, and landscape architecture. It brought countries from around the world together to share knowledge and ideas. It is a great energetic event that has steadily grown in size, significance, and prominence. In 2002, for example, the Floriade theme was “Feel the Art of Nature.” This year’s theme is “Growing Green Cities, with a focus on Energizing, Healthy-ing, Greening, and Feeding. It is timely considering the fragile health of our planet.”

“This does sound interesting, Annie, but why should we care about growing green cities?”

She paused, “according to a landmark draft report from the United Nations climate science advisor,

Species extinction, more widespread disease, unlivable heat, ecosystem collapse, cities menaced by rising seas — these and other devastating climate impacts are accelerating and bound to become painfully obvious before a child born today turns 30. The choices societies make now will determine whether our species thrive or survive as the 21st century unfolds.

We should all care about an event like Floriade, where over 40 countries are coming together intent on saving our planet by sharing knowledge and innovations in the fields of sustainability, food, health, and energy. Here’s a compelling list of just six of the countries participating are:

Indonesia, whose theme, The Wonderful Archipelago, speaks to this country of 17,00 islands commitment and solutions in managing rising sea levels and how to live in dynamic harmony with nature.

Germany’s pavilion is devoted to Biotopia – Growing Community through a sustainable interaction between resource-saving horticulture and the city.

Qatar’s theme is Desert Nest. Their pavilion is constructed using 3D printing and sustainable material to demonstrate how a desert is transformed into lush, fertile land and a healthy, self-sustaining city.

Their theme, Improved Food Supply, at the Nepal pavilion showcases Newari architecture as a model for today’s green cities. And it shows how Dhunghe Dara, their ancient earth-friendly stone waterways that supplied water to villages, is still a sustainable transport model.

France’s pavilion showcases prototypes of Demountable Buildings and urban furniture to create a modern city’s healthy external and internal environments.

India recreates a Spiritual Garden at its pavilion to demonstrate its ancient tradition and ongoing importance of learning our connection to nature as a method of coping with climate change.”

LJ added, ” We’re going with open minds and blank notebooks. In the words of Richard Rogers, “the only way forward if we’re going to improve the quality of the environment is to get everyone involved.” (“TheSocialTalks – The Melting of Glaciers: A Code Red Emergency”)

Annie and LJ are a fictional couple. Their storyline promotes healthy eating and earth-friendly practices.