To denounce deforestation, Peruvian actor marries tree
Santo Domingo: Peruvian actor Richard Torres has “married” a tree in the Dominican Republic capital to draw attention to the indiscriminate felling of forests.
In the curious ceremony on Sunday in the Ciudad Colonial neighbourhood here Torres placed a ring on the tree and told a person who acted as a judge that he accepted the marriage.
“We have come to Santo Domingo to perform our wedding number 17 and we will not stop until we establish a new Guinness record, with 100 ceremonies like this,” the actor told EFE.
The small ritual attracted dozens of people in the Columbus Park, a few meters away from the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.
Torres was assisted by a couple of Dominican actors, who served as best man and bridesmaid of the wedding.
Although admitting that the project is very expensive, the actor said he will continue with his plan to make at least five weddings a year in different countries and cities.
Before Santo Domingo, Torres wedded to a tree in his native Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, Cuba and Bolivia, among other countries. (IANS)
Pregnant New Zealand minister cycles to delivery ward
Wellington: New Zealand’s Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter has taken the cycle of life to a whole new level, biking her way to hospital for the birth of her first child. Genter, a Green MP and keen cyclist, chose pedal power for Sunday’s one kilometre (0.6 mile) journey from her home to Auckland City Hospital for the delivery. “My partner and I cycled because there wasn’t enough room in the car for the support crew… but it also put me in the best possible mood!” she posted on social media alongside a picture of her with her bike.
Genter is 42 weeks pregnant, and said in the post that she was going in to hospital for an induction. She is not only Women’s Minister but Associate Transport Minister in New Zealand’s centre-left government, advocating for sustainable travel. Her Green Party colleagues tweeted that the bicycle trip to the delivery ward was “the most #onbrand thing ever”.
A party spokeswoman said the baby had still not arrived by late Monday afternoon. The impending birth comes just weeks after New Zealand Prime Minister returned to work after having her first child, daughter Neve, in June. (AFP)
