Over the last decade, under the leadership of His Excellency President Vladimir Putin, Russia has experienced political stability, fast economic growth, and improved relationships with other countries. Furthermore, President Putin has promoted environmental conservation awareness through actions such as signing the 2004 Kyoto Protocol treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gases and personally supporting a number of protection programs for rare and endangered animals in Russia.
Commending his wise policies, inspirational acts and leadership, the Supreme Master Ching Hai wrote the following thank you letter to His Excellency President Putin:
November 30, 2012 His
Excellency Vladimir Putin For a long time, I have been wanting to write you, but I have been in intensive meditation without adequate facilities to do so. First, I would like to wish that you are in good health and doing well, with everything going smoothly in your noble work for Russia and the world. Thank you for setting a positive example through your commendable acts, big and small, during your terms as both President and Prime Minister. I am always glad and touched whenever I see you and other leaders do good deeds for our world and the environment. For example, you have wisely used your leadership position to save lives by encouraging a healthier lifestyle among your fellow citizens, including through your own personal example. You are currently leading efforts for a strong set of anti-tobacco laws to ban smoking in public places as well as tobacco advertisements and kiosk sales, while raising cigarette taxes. You have also continued to uphold the ban on alcohol sales and drinking in public places. In addition, you championed the 2009 law restricting gambling to a few remote areas in order to reduce addiction and organized crime. You have likewise succeeded in reducing crime and corruption by implementing reforms to improve the police, military, and legal systems. In foreign affairs, you have taken steps to eliminate nuclear weapons and increase regional economic cooperation and shared prosperity. Through your policies, you have also promoted a penchant for a peaceful co-existence among nations instead of warfare. To support a good cause, you sang and played the piano for a 2010 musical charity event in St. Petersburg that benefited ill children. Meanwhile, for the animals, in September of this year you donned a white crane outfit and piloted a hang glider to guide a group of endangered Siberian cranes to a safer winter habitat in an inspiring operation called “The Flight of Hope.” Afterward, you donated the hang glider, which you had purchased with your own money, to the crane conservation effort. You have demonstrated your concern for protecting wildlife in other ways as well, raising awareness among people through your personal, hands-on efforts to help endangered tigers, whales, polar bears, and other vulnerable species. In addition, as prime minister you have helped to expand the number of national parks and natural reserves, among other caring environmental measures. Thank you, Mr. President, for being a shining and compassionate role model, helping to save lives and improve the quality of life for humans and animals. I look forward to seeing your many more noble acts to come. May God bless you and Russia.
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