On June 28, 2011, UN Under General Secretary Sha Zukang spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, calling upon the United States for its leadership in getting the world's governments and citizens to re-commit themselves to the global challenge of sustainable development -- one of the primary aims of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janiero in 2012.

Sha Zukang highlighted six ways in which the US could contribute to this Rio+20 effort, then ended his speech with a 1963 quote from President Kennedy:

“… in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future.” 

He then called on us to "mobilize your networks. Contribute your best and most innovative ideas. Let us, together, make Rio+20 the start of a new future."