Emotional moment: Ronald Sakolsky celebrates Yin Yuzhen's UN recognition in Rome

Yin Yuzhen, a pioneer in Chinese sand control, was recognized as one of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development at a ceremony on Thursday in Rome, Italy. Her longtime friend and retired US teacher, Ronald Sakolsky, joined her on stage and was visibly moved as he applauded her achievement. Decades ago, Sakolsky raised $5,000 to help fund Yin's early tree-planting efforts in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Speaking warmly of her lifelong dedication to turning barren sand into green forests, Sakolsky urged people everywhere to take action and protect the environment. (Source: Inner Mongolia Radio and Television Station; Video edited by Li Yuanxin and interns Sun Meiyin and Zhou Huiru)