World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated today, June 5. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, its aim is to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public awareness. In Armenia, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan participated in a clean-up of the Hrazdan River gorge in Yerevan, part of a nation-wide project called "Clean Homeland" he has launched. Clean-up of the gorge itself is taking place within the parameters of a project entitled "Three Bridges", which focuses on trash removal and beautification of the areas in the vicinity of the Hrazdan, Hakhtanak and Davitashen bridges that span the gorge. "We must educate our children and grandchildren that it is wrong to pollute the environment, our dear city. Such an attitude is a prime component of true patriotism and must become a cherished tradition. We must see to it that this initiative spreads to all the regions of the country," PM Sargsyan told reporters. PM Sargsyan noted that penalties for commercial establishments polluting the environment need to be increased and that citizens of the country must also face fines for littering and other disrespectful behavior.