How WED is being Celebrated
Around the World
AUSTRALIA: The main international celebrations will take place this year in Adelaide. The following web
sites offer an overview of the various activities planned in Australia:
http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au
http://www.environment.gov.au/wed
http://www.adelaide.sa.gov.au/wed
To mark World Environment Day, CHOICE Online has asked Environment Australia, the Australian
Conservation Foundation and the Australian Industry Group for their views on the state of the Australian
environment. People can read what they have to say and join the forum discussion with their comments and
thoughts. The article will be online as of Saturday 3rd June on CHOICE Online web site:
http://www.choice.com.au/articles/a101426p1.htm
More information on this initiative can be found at: http://www.choice.com.au
FRANCE: On the 3rd and 4th June, to celebrate the World Environment Day, the Maison de la Baie is
organizing a walk around the bay of Saint Michel .
INDIA: The Theerthamalai Environmental Awareness Movement is organizing several events including
tree planting, street theatre and bicycle rallies which are to take place in Nelli
Nagar, Pidamaneri, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu. The Conservator of Forest, the District forest officer, the Divisional Engineer, the
State Pollution Control Board have been invited to join the students from schools and college to celebrate
the World Environment Day.
In Guwahati, Assam more than 300 students from 30 schools in two, junior (class 5-7) and senior (class
8-10) categories will take part in sit and draw, extempore speech and quiz contests on environment related topics
organized by the Centre for Environment Education (North-East). On 4th June
during first half of the day environmental games will be played with these students and they will be demonstrated simple methods of environmental quality
monitoring like water, soil, biodiversity. During later half there will be lectures by resource persons on local
environmental problems and how to control them followed by discussion with about 300 villagers of the
area. On the 5th June the winner students in different contests will receive prizes from the Chief minister
of the State of Assam in a function organised by the Government of Assam.
The Association for India's Development is celebrating World Environment Day
on June 4th and June 5th by conducting Painting/Poster
competitions for children in three age groups. About 100 children will
participate in the event whose theme will be "My Beautiful Planet".
Prizes will be distributed by Vivek Menon, cofounder of the Wildlife Trust of
India, and author of the book "On the Brink", who will also talk about
conservation.
ANTIGUA and BARBUDA: The Environment Division of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment is
organizing on the 7th June a "Seminar for Judiciary on Environmental Crime". Lawyers and judges have
been invited to this event sponsored by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
MALAISIA: The Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society of Pulau Pinang will host a day of
educational activities at the Penang Botanic Gardens to help increase appreciation and understanding of
the environment. During this day children and adults will have the opportunity to walk around the serene
Gardens with an experienced tour guide; explore the many interesting features of the rainforest; participate
in fun nature craft activities (making new paper from old ones, printing T-shits using natural shapes, making
greeting cards using natural colours); take a closer look at earthworms and tadpoles; wade in the stream
while catching interesting stream creature and learn how they live in water.
BANGLADESH: The Sustainable Development Networking Project - SDNP is organizing a wide series of
activities to celebrate the World Environment Day. These include: children rally and painting competition;
environmental fair and cultural programme; publication of poster and special supplements in national
newspapers; special programmes on national radio and televsion as well as decoration of street islands
with banners and festoons. More information about SDNP's activities in Bangladesh can be found at:
http://www.sdnbd.org/world_environment_day.htm
MEXICO: The Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey Nuevo Leon
and Tampico Tamaulipas is organizing a conference in the Ecology
Department . For more information you can contact Dra Leticia A. Hauad M.
<lhauad@ccr.dsi.uanl.mx<&rt;
GEORGIA:
The UNEP National Committee hopes to raise enough funds for a rock-concert;
if not, will arrange an art exhibition related to environmental themes and
present their latest products, inter alia SOE Georgia 2000 and a Tbilisi
Environmental Atlas.
MOLDOVA:
The UNEP National Committee is publishing a leaflet; conducting of an
educational-entertaining act "Gifts of the Earth" for children
(including activities like natural appliqué works etc.); ecological games;
"The tale of the ozone" - a beneficiary
Play
and lastly - if enough funds - a nation-wide Contest "Photography, Pictures
And Poetry" which will result in the edition of a book.
ITALY:
Legambiente is organizing a "Clean beaches and Seabeds" campaign
soliciting the return of the 130.000 volunteers of last year. It will
take place within the larger framework of the "Clean-up the Mediterranean
Sea" (27-28 May) celebrated throughout the Mediterranean countries.
CZECH
REPUBLIC:
The UNEP National Committee is organizing a press conference
GREECE:
The UNEP National Committees is organizing a major workshop/public discussion on
one of the following issues: 1)recycling of batteries - new EU directive In
the pipeline; 2) EU regulations on the CFCs and their very poor implementation
in Greece; 3)The Olympics2004 and their environmental consequences.
UKRAINE:
The UNEP National Committees is organizing a regional conference on
sustainable development in the industrial regions of Ukraine (and planting trees
in memory of the day); "Garden Day" with exhibitions, floristic
collections, publications on ecology , excursions for schoolchildren, movies,
planting trees in city parks in collaboration with students' environmental
organizations, etc..
HUNGARY:
The national Committee will
organize it's first public meeting on the WED with press release and conference,
launching website on UNEP and the Hungarian Committee.
GENEVA:
To mark World Environment Day 2000, the Geneva Environment Network (http://www.environmenthouse.ch/)
will organize a multi-stakeholder event bringing together representatives of the
international and environmental communities based in and around Geneva. The
topic of this event, which will take a Panel discussion format, will take up one
of the themes of the Malmö meeting immediately preceding it.
NORFOLK
ISLAND:
As a completion to the Norfolk Island Green Corps Project, the seven
member team will present a day of environmental education to help celebrate WED
2000, within the picturesque and scenic Hundred Acres Reserve. The major focus
of the day's activities will be centred around the 300 students of the Norfolk
Island Central School. Sensory trails and scavenger hunts will be provided for
the younger students to introduce a relaxed and fun way of discovering the
natural environment. For the older students studying biology and geography
information handouts and discovery walks within the Reserve to assist with
various school projects will be provided. Topics such as vegetation surveys, plant classification,
introduced species, biodiversity and sustainability in a modern world will all
be presented by the Green Corps Team in conjunction with the Norfolk Island
Parks and Forestry Service.
KENYA:
Throughout Kenya, schools and community groups are involved in demonstrating
their commitment to improving the environment. The Regional Office for Africa in
collaboration with the Green Towns movement through their action groups will be
having activities in 30 towns throughout Kenya on Saturday 3 June. The towns
include:
·
Malindi,
Kakamega, Kisumu, Naivasha, Embu
·
Kilifi,
Mtwapa, Mombasa, Marakiani, Machakos
·
Thika,
Karuri, Mavoko, Nyeri, Runyenjes
·
Nanyuki,
Ol-Kalou, Nakuru, Elburgon, Kericho
·
Webuye,
Malaba, Busia, Homabay, Siaya
·
Kendubay,
Mbita, Migori, Kisii and Eldoret.
In
addition, the movement has been running debates on environmental issues. The
participants are secondary school students from Local level to the National
level. The finals
will be held on 5 June at Safari Park Hotel from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm and the
topic of discussion is "The use of plastics is good for the environment"
JAPAN:
The United Nations University in Tokyo is organizing a wide series of events
inside and outside the UNU including : a Children's Poster Exhibition from
Environment Partnership Cities; a wildlife film festival; various symposium on
environmental problems; a workshop on "Environmental Careers"; a short
training course entitled "Photovoltaic cells on your own veranda" as
well as a flea market and eco-car, eco-business display. More details on the
activities organized by UNU in Japan and coordinated by the Global Environment
Information Centre - GEIC can be found at: http://www.geic.or.jp/wed2000/
ISRAEL:
The
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is organizing an International
conference on "Water and Environment; Resolving Conflicts in the
Development of Dryland." The
conference starts officially on the 5th of June, 2000 at 9:00 am, Israel Time.
More details on this Conference can be found on the University's site: http://www.bgu.ac.il/cwst
Zalul
Association for Environment & Preservation of the Red Sea and Friends of the
Earth Middle East are organising in
Eilat a Children treasure hunt and educational activities about the coral reef
and animal species in the Red Sea, to be followed by a poster making session
which will express the children views of threats to the Red Sea and what they
feel they could do to help. The Guides from the Society for the Protection of
Nature will be facilitating the treasure hunt. The event sponsored by the
Friends of the Earth Middle East, Zalul for Environment & Preservation of
the Red Sea, The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and the
Underwater Observatory of Eilat , will be covered by local newspapers.
GERMANY:
The European Commission in Hanover is organizing a press conference with
Mrs. Margot Wallstrom, European Commissioner for the Environment, an
environmental parade with schoolchildren, Young European's Brass Musical recital
with instruments made from recycled instruments, discussion between
schoolchildren and Commissioner Wallstrom on "What kind of environment deo
we want? Let's discuss it!". European
Commissioner for the Environment, German Federal Minister for the Environment,
potuguese Minister for the Environment, members of the European Parliament,
regional and local authorities from various States of the European Union are
among the personalities invited. German, European and world press are expected
to cover the events.
NEPAL:
In Kathmandu the celebration of the World Environment Day will last one week .
The Eco Club Summit 2000 will offer: conservation documentaries show, inter
school poetry and art contests entitled "My Nature My Future" jointly
organized with the Central Zoo; Clean up campaigns in three heritage sites of
Kathmandu Valley jointly organised with the ministry of population and
environment - MOPE. On Saturday , June 3rd, over 2.500 people -school
children, top government officials, and people from all walks of life - will be
marching through the streets of Kathmandu to spread the message that together we
can make a difference. More details on the Eco Club Summit 2000 can be found at: http://www.wwfnepal.org.np
SPAIN:
WED will be celebrated on Saturday, June 3rd in Banyoles. A group
of municipalities will participate in the following activities: a photographic
competition depecting the environment open to children, youth and adults divided
in three categories, prizes will be awarded in each group; official inauguration
of a local dump which has been cleared of urban waste; the public will be
invited to take trips in a balloon from which it is possible to have a
magnificient view of the region; meals in a restored area which has been
landscaped and reforested; popular peformance taking place throughout the day
with music, dances, games and parades; guided tours through projects. A group of
guides who have specialized in environmental education will accompany visitors
during the visit to the new dump. All these projects are intended to educate and
raise public awareness of problems caused by waste to the environment and
emphasize re-use and recycling of glass, paper, packaging, batteries and
medicines.
BANGLADESH: The Local Initiative for Peoples Progress - LIPP in Imampur,
Chanpur District, is celebrating the World Environment Day by planting more
trees in the villages where they work with women. One hundred women representing
one hundred families will plant 300 saplings at there homestead area.
MALAYSIA: The Sabah Forestry Department is organizing a nature camp for
60 school students (16-18 years old) in Bukit Gemok, Tawau in the Malaysian
State of Sabah (North Borneo). The main activity will be a Role-Playing game
where students are divided into 6 groups, or stakeholders, in a simulated
environmental issue (cutting 50,000 ha of pristine forest for developing a tree
plantation for a pulp and paper mill). There will be an open and controlled
discussion on the last day and this will be held in the presence of a few
Directors of local government agencies. Other minor activities or games will
support the main activity. There will be sessions to guide students to think
critically. Two workshops for facilitators have been organized in order to help
them to guide the students. The overall objective is to give the students the
opportunity to realize and understand that there are many angles of every issue.
NORWAY: "Healthy Environments -The Local Challenge" 6th World
congress on environmental health Oslo, Norway, 5 - 9 June 2000. Opening on World
Environment Day the 6th World Congress on Environmental Health will
be an important meeting place for people from all over the world caring for
environment and health. The social programmes, the professional and technical
visits and the post congress tour will give participants the opportunity to get
to know colleagues world wide. In the planning of the World Congress the
Norwegian association had close co-operation with Norwegian Governmental bodies.
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is sponsoring and supporting the work.
Professionals from the Board of Health, the Ministry of Environment and the City
of Oslo work together with the Norwegian association in the planning of the
professional programme and all the practical details. They wish to take this
opportunity to express their thanks to them for generous support and help. More
information can be found at the following address http://www.fmh.no.
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