United Nations
Katje Hansen,
Master of
Ceremonies Pierre Quiblier, Jason, and
UNEP
spokesman Tore Brevik at the UNEP
International Photographic Competition
on the Environment 2000 Gala
(Credit: Photo UNEP
© Gabor Szilagyi)
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The United
Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP)
designated Jason a Goodwill Ambassador
in
October 1999. According to a UNEP
press release, Jason's
appointment
had been based upon "his commitment
and dedication to furthering the
cause of the environment through the
use of his creative talents to
inspire respect for our natural
heritage and to promote the
conservation and sustainable use of
the earth's resources."
Then 24 years old,
Jason was the youngest individual ever
to receive this honor.
UNEP officially
announced
Jason's
appointment
on
October
26,
1999,
at
the
WILD
Awards
for
environmental responsibility in the
private sector. Adnan Amin,
Director of UNEP's Regional Office for
North America, told the crowd
that The Lion King promoted
saving
the environment and preserving
endangered species, and that
Jason's ability to connect with
audiences of all ages, paired with his
dedication to environmental causes,
would help these issues become more
real to people. He also pointed out
that UNEP had a special affinity
for Simba: the name meant "lion" in
Swahili, an official language of
Kenya which is where UNEP was based.
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When Jason spoke
at the October 1999 awards ceremony,
he stressed the importance of
raising
awareness in order to protect the
environment. He believed that his
work enabled him to communicate with
diverse people, in particular the
young generation. The event concluded
with Jason performing a number
from The Lion King.
Regarding his interest in the UN,
Jason said in his ZoogDisney
chat, "I did a
lot of communication with the UN. I
was always very interested
in the United Nations as a concept --
the fact that there is a group
that unites most of the world, and we
have one place where all of these
countries can get together and discuss
issues. Our generation takes
that for granted. Past generations
realize that this is not normal, and
that countries didn't always get
together and communicate like this."
Jason appeared at several events
associated with UNEP, including the UNEP
International
Photographic Competition on the
Environment 2000
Gala (pictured above) and the
2001 WILD Awards presented by UNEP,
the WILD
Foundation, and Animal
Planet. He was also listed
as
a
scheduled
performer at the World Wilderness
Congress in South Africa in
November
2001.
Jason's television show Keeping it Wild
with Jason Raize enabled
him
to
bring
additional attention to the
environment and endangered
species.
In
fact, Jason scheduled the show's
premiere party in fall 2001 at the UN
Headquarters in New York.
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