A. Sir David Attenborough is one of the most respected and influential figures in the history of TV broadcasting, natural history and environmental awareness. For more than seven decades, he has dedicated his life to exploring the wonders of the natural world and sharing them with millions of viewers around the globe. What makes Attenborough truly remarkable is not only his knowledge about nature, but also his unique ability to communicate with audiences, especially with young people. Through his narratives and documentaries, which are journeys rather than lectures, viewers experience the wonder and beauty of life on Earth.

B. Known for his passionate storytelling style, Attenborough has not only revolutionised wildlife documentaries but has also inspired generations to care more deeply about the planet. Born on May 8, 1926, in London, David Attenborough grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment. His father was the principal of University College in Leicester, and his mother encouraged curiosity and learning in all their children. David's brothers became successful in acting and business, but David was different. He had a huge interest in nature and from an early age loved to collect stones, fossils and natural specimens.

C. After studying natural sciences at Cambridge, Attenborough joined the BBC in 1952, beginning a remarkable career in television. Initially, the BBC discouraged him from appearing on screen thinking his teeth were too large for television. But his excellent communication skills soon made him one of the most recognisable faces and voices in broadcasting. His first major success was his early documentary series Zoo Quest, in which he filmed animals in their natural habitats rather than in zoos - a revolutionary idea at the time. Few people had seen exotic animals in the wild, and this completely new approach transformed nature TV programming, making the series a huge success.

D. In the 1970s, Attenborough helped create the BBC's Natural History Unit, which became a world leader in wildlife production. As both producer and presenter, he created documentary film series revealing the beauty and complexity of life on Earth. Among his most well-known works is Life on Earth - the story of evolution; this 13-series film introduced audiences to a great variety of species existing in the world. The use of high-quality, open air and underwater filming allowed viewers to see animal behaviour in extraordinary detail. Seen by over 500 million people worldwide, the film set a new standard for wildlife filmmaking and the industry as a whole.

E. Beyond their visual beauty, Attenborough's documentaries have always carried a strong environmental message. In Blue Planet II, shot in 2017, he highlighted the terrible effects of plastic pollution on sea life. In A Life on Our Planet, he shared his emotional message about the environmental changes he'd seen – from the loss of rainforests to the melting of polar ice - and asked everyone to act to restore the planet's balance. David Attenborough once said: 'The natural world is the greatest source of excitement, the greatest source of visual beauty and the greatest source of intellectual interest.'

F. Attenborough's contribution to natural science and filmmaking has been recognised with numerous awards and honours. He was knighted* in 1985, receiving the title of 'Sir'. In 2020 he received the prestigious Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II. He has won multiple BAFTAs*, including awards for programmes broadcast in black and white, colour, HD and 3D. Moreover, several species have been named after him - from a prehistoric plesiosaur called Attenborosaurus to a rare tree and even a butterfly. The butterfly, discovered in the rainforests of the Amazon, is called Attenborough's black-eyed satyr - named in his honour for his lifelong contribution to nature, education and conservation. At the age of 100, David Attenborough continues to protect nature and the environment.

* was knighted: მიენიჭა რაინდის წოდება   * BAFTA: British Academy of Film and Television Arts; ბრიტანეთის კინოსა და ტელევიზიის ხელოვნების აკადემია

This is a story told by Lizi Varazi, the daughter of Avto Varazi, a famous Georgian artist.

I was very little when my father, Avto Varazi, passed away. The only memory I clearly have of him is when he's holding me in his arms, and I feel the prickly needles of his unshaved face against my cheek. As a child, I often dreamt about him – imagining us together in his studio, watching him paint, or going with him to an exhibition opening. Even though I didn't know him well, I grew up surrounded by stories about him and his family. My father's grandfather, Soprom Varazashvili, came from the village of Mukhli in the Racha region. He later moved to Tbilisi and became a baker. His children were all successful. My grandfather Vasili, Avto's father, was a professor at Tbilisi Medical Institute. Soprom's other sons - Ivane and Isidore participated in setting up the Chiatura Manganese Mining* Society. And Soprom's one more son, Giorgi, designed the first water pipeline in Tbilisi. Giorgi and Isidore also helped create the Rustaveli Society in Hamburg, Germany. They supported Georgian students abroad and, thanks to their scholarships, many Georgian students studied abroad.

My grandmother, Elene Gaspariani, came from a family that escaped from Turkey during the Armenian Genocide, when many Armenians were killed and forced to leave their country of residence. Soprom Varazashvili, who was the head of the bakers in Tbilisi, gave them shelter and later his son Vasili married Elene. My father grew up in a traditional Tbilisi home on Perov Street. Avto began drawing at the age of five. From early childhood, Avto Varazi dreamt of organising his own exhibition one day. He was very independent and strong-minded and this spirit was visible in his art. Avto Varazi painted freely and never tried to meet others' expectations. During his life, he never held a personal exhibition. Instead, he would bring one painting to the Artists' Gallery. That single painting always became the centre of attention.

My father didn't follow Soviet artistic rules and believed that to paint a person, he had to know them personally. For this reason, he only painted people he truly knew. Avto Varazi hadn't painted a historical person. A photo of my father painting in his studio is one of our family's most treasured possessions. For some time, my father painted religious themes, but most of his works were portraits and still life*. He often chose not to sign them, thinking a signature would take attention away from the painting itself. Avto Varazi was the first Georgian artist to use the 'collage' technique. Using this method, he created compositions from everyday objects, turning them into reflections of reality. His goal was to show life as it truly was - honest, imperfect and deeply human. Many of his paintings are now in museums and private collections around the world. One of his most significant works is 'Bull's Head' - a powerful image made from pieces of his own trousers attached to plasterboard*. It is now preserved in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In his works, Avto Varazi combined different materials, such as metal and glass to achieve unique effects. My father's small studio on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue was always open to guests and friends. He loved company, but he was often sad inside. He died at the age of fifty, leaving behind much more that he could have achieved.

* manganese mining - მანგანუმის მოპოვება   * still life - ნატურმორტი   * plasterboard - თაბაშირმუყაო