U.N. taps Tinker Bell for green ambassador

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The United Nations Monday named Disney character Tinker Bell an "Honorary Ambassador of Green" to help raise children's environmental awareness.

The announcement came just before a screening at U.N. headquarters in New York of the world premiere of the Walt Disney animated film, "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure," the organization said in a release.

"We're delighted Tinker Bell has agreed to be our Honorary Ambassador of Green," said Kiyo Akasaka, undersecretary-general for communications and public information. "This beloved animated character can help us inspire kids and their parents to nurture nature and do what they can to take care of the environment."

Monday's event was part of the run-up to the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, Demark, in December, where countries will try to secure a new global agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Protecting the environment is an underlying theme of the Tinker Bell movies, said the U.N. Department of Public Information.