India tribal chiefs name Al Gore for green award

By Agence France-Presse SHILLONG, India--Three thousand Indian tribal chiefs in one of the world's wettest regions have invited ex-US vice president Al Gore to pick up an award for creating awareness about climate change. The prize will be presented on October 6 near Shillong, capital of northeastern Meghalaya state, at a ceremony expected to be attended by 300,000 people, organizers said. Top Indian economists and green campaigners are also likely to be present. "We were greatly inspired after watching Gore's Academy Award-winning documentary, 'An Inconvenient Truth,' and decided to honor him for his concern about the dangers of climate change," federal lawmaker Robert Kharshiing told Agence France-Presse. "The award is to draw global attention to the serious problem of environmental changes facing the world today, including our own region that is located in the Himalayan belt," Kharshiing said. There was no word from Gore's office on whether he would turn up to receive the honor, which includes a certificate, a citation, traditional gifts and a small amount of cash. "We were told from Gore's office that he was humbled after hearing about the award," Kharshiing said. Local leaders say that two tiny Meghalaya villages, some of the world's rainiest places, were already bearing the brunt of climate change and now receive scant rains.