LATIN
AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
UNEP/ROLAC worked together with
Televisa enterprise to create two half-hour television programmes, which
were broadcast through "ECO" system on 5, 6, 12 and 13 June 1999. These
programmes included messages from Ministers of the Environment from Brazil,
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and the Director of UNEP/ROLAC. The
programmes were broadcast to Latin America, the United States, Europe and
parts of Asia.
ARGENTINA
The Liaison Committee of UNEP in Cordoba,
Argentina launched an integration programme of a group of environmental
NGOs that will contribute to the creation of an Information and Documentation
Centre on Environment and Development in the country, with the objective
to become gradually a generator of information open to general public.
The Liaison Committee also distributed
the messages of the Secretary-General and the UNEP Executive Director on
the occasion of the 1999 World Environment Day.
More than 500 people attended the scheduled
activities of the Tenth Ecology and Environment Workshop in the municipality
of La Plata, Argentina. On 21 April the opening of the Coliseo Postesta
Theatre took place and was attended by representatives of the Executive,
the Council of La Plata, the Secretariat of Environmental Policy of the
Presidency of Buenos Aires, provincial legislators, NGO representatives,
and the Federation of Cultural and Sport Entities of La Plata. This ceremony
was chaired by Mr. Santiago R. Olivier, President of Foro Verde, and Mr.
Eduardo Cueto Rua, President of Argentinean Health, Culture and Environment
Foundation, who gave a lecture on Health and the Environment.
One of the most important activities
was the opening of the Library of Ecology and Environment "Guillermo Enrique
Hudson", hosted by Carlos A. Moncau, Historian and Municipal Governor of
La Plata.
The High School of Photographic Training
and the Environmental Association Green Forum launched a contest with the
motto "Environmental Pollution in the Industrial Pole of Ensenada".
The event, open to the general public, was divided in two categories: black
and white and colour.
Sponsored by the Commission of Ecology
and Environment of La Plata, a meeting on environmental education took
place. At the Municipal Park Villa Elisa an educational video was shown
and a musical concert were held.
The Association of Organic Producers
of the Province of Buenos Aires carried out a series of exhibitions and
a sale of organic vegetables, fruits, honey and aromatic plants.
Environmental trips, tree plantings,
environmental walks, an exhibition on Graphic Design applied to environmental
training and an environmental marathon also took place.
BRAZIL
The Environmental unit of BNGES held
an environmental week, which was very well promoted. The day was a huge
success for the organizers of the event.
CHILE
The Division of ECLAC Natural Resources,
the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Goods of Chile,
presented the "Fair of Environment Education Projects", during the World
Environment Day celebrations. Students from a number of schools in the
metropolitan area of Santiago, participated in the event. Six projects
were presented: "Range", "Schools in Nature", "Educa Forest", ACLE: "Waste
recycling", PME Environmental Education and "Interdisciplinary Learning
Cycle".
In this fair there were many exhibitors
and a stand entitled "Getting to Know our Environment", in which students
have access to different consultation material, a "virtual stand", an Environmental
Network, through which students access the main internet sites linked to
environmental education was organized. In addition, a number of videos
on environmental issues were shown, and a stand where books were placed
so students could express their thoughts regarding the 1999 World Environment
Day.
The three organizing institutions of
the Fair (The National Goods and Education Ministries of the Government
of Chile and the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean) signed
the Rio de Olivares agreement.
In Chile, the National Commission for
the Environment launched the national campaign "Chile .. I will take care
of you" to commemorate the World Environment Day. The campaignís main purpose
was to encourage actions whereby people could protect the environment and
contribute to environmental education and environmental awareness. The
campaign comprised four programmes. The first, "Grow with your trees" calls
on people to plant trees in urban areas. The second "Beat trash" aims to
conduct action on a regular basis with people across the country undertaking
clean up campaigns. The third "Recycling Your Habits" promotes a change
in the consumption patterns of people. The objective of the fourth programme
"Environment Builders" was to create a national club of free association
for children and young people to establish a set of principles and actions
for the conservation of the environment and to observe certain environment
ethics.
COLOMBIA
To commemorate World Environment Day
1999 in Colombia, UNEP/ROLAC was present at the National Assembly of the
National Network of Environmental Training organized from 3 to 5 June 1999.
Its main objectives were to generate discussion in order to establish sustainable
development outlines for each region and for the whole country, as well
as to review the regulations and budgets for the action plan for the coming
years.
The Atlantic Regional Autonomous Company
(ARAC) carried out workshops to raise awareness, as well as recreational
and environmental activities in the municipality of Galapagos so as to
stimulate in young people between 4 to 10 years of age a sense of harmony
with their environment through games. To conduct the Reforestation, Environment
and Peace teleconference, environmental authorities, the Education Secretariat
and the municipality of Medellin, Medellinís Public Sector, the Agriculture
Secretariat, Antioquia TV, and the Environmental Management of Antioquia
Government met with the Minister of Environment, Juan Mayr Maldonado. Cultural,
artistic and recreational activities on topics regarding different environmental
components for students between 10 to 12 years took place.
On the occasion of World Environment
Day, Barranquillaís Zoo Secretariat of Education and the Thermoelectric
Power Station Las Flores launched the "Fourth Environmental Photography
Contest Thermoflores Award", in which 114 exhibitors participated in four
different categories: Fauna, Flora, Landscaping, and Protest.
COSTA RICA
The Environment and Energy Ministry
of Costa Rica carried out activities all over the country, in which a number
of schools, NGOís, public libraries, children and adults participated.
Some of these tasks began in early May and continued until 5 June.
The official ceremony on the occasion
of the World Environment Day in Costa Rica was chaired by the Minister
of Environment and Energy and was held in the Poas volcano on 4 June.
Tree plantings took place in Huetar,
Aguirre Patarrita, Paradero Monte de la Cruz, Hojancha and Canas. Plenaries,
round tables and video-chats were also organized. On issues such as natural
resources, animals in danger of extinction, forests, water, wildlife areas,
solid waste management and environmental law.
A drawing and painting contest on natural
resources was held in Puriscal. In Bagases there was a drawing contest
on the topic "Letís start the new millennium without forests fires". In
Santa Rosa a stories contest on environmental issues took place. In Hojancha,
people were invited to contribute to a mural regarding natural resources.
Also, there were different photographs on the topic "Environmental Pollution
in Alajuela rivers".
CUBA
As has been practiced in recent years,
in Cuba a National Commemorative Symposium was held on World Environment
Day on 5 June. It was dedicated to older people in honour of the United
Nations International Year of Older Persons: The National Symposium was
framed under the WED slogan "Our Earth, Our Future, Just Save It".
During the Symposium in the 14 provinces
and in the Special Municipality of Isla de la Juventud there were more
than 400 activities to promote environmental awareness. Among them, tree-planting,
art exhibition and contests on the environment and communication workshops.
More than 1,500 citizens participated in this event.
ECUADOR
The Ministry of Environment of Ecuador
appointed a Committee responsible for World Environment Day 1999. Activities
undertaken included a Student Olympic Games on the Environment, in which
school students from different schools from 17 of the 22 provinces participated.
These Games consisted of answering a questionnaire on the main environmental
problems of their region and their possible solutions. The winning 17 students
were awarded certificates of recognition made of recycled paper, a badge
and a free visit to a national park.
A number of student organizations,
environmental NGOs and local government authorities were invited to organize
celebrations in every main city. Many cities responded with the organization
of clean up efforts, and environmental and cultural exhibitions where the
public received information about the advantages of recycling. In addition
to environmental awareness demonstrations, a series of visits and tree
plantings took place. In Quito, the Mayor and the Minister of Environment,
Mrs. Yolanda Kakabadse participated in the planting of 12,000 trees.
The most important event during the
WED celebrations were the signing of a Decree between Ecuador and Peru
and the passing of the Environmental Management Law.
After 14 years of negotiations between
the Minister of the Environment and various deputies, the National Congress
of Ecuador finally approved the Environmental Management Law. This Law
allows the population to participate in the decision-making process when
their environment is affected by public or private construction work. The
population will be able to bring before the civil courts those who destroy
their environment with the application of appropriate sanctions (fines
and prison).A National Council on Sustainable Development will be created
which will be responsible for planning policies with the involvement of
relevant stakeholders.
In addition, a bi-national Peace Park
was created on the border between Ecuador and Peru. The Park is named "Condor"
in recognition of the emblem bird of both nations. The Environment Minister
of Ecuador succeeded in having President Jamil Mahuad and President Alberto
Fujimori participate in the event which was carried via satellite. The
Decreeís signing ceremony was broadcast live throughout the country on
TV and radio. President Mahuad pointed out the creation of the Park as
an acknowledgement to the World Environment Day. The Parkís area is 25
km2 on the Ecuadorian side and 50 km2 on the Peruvian side.
In addition, a study among state entities
and environmental organizations of both countries will be carried out to
determine the richness of the biological diversity that exists in that
zone and the adequate forms of ecotourism. It is proposed that the Shuar
and Achuar communities of the Ecuadorian South East jungle manage this
ecotourism effort to expose their culture and as a way of increasing their
economic subsistence.
In Quito two main streets, Republica
and Eloy Alfaro, and a number of avenues were closed to vehicles and changed
to bicycle paths so as to raise peopleís awareness about car pollution
and to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative and ecological mean
of transportation.
JAMAICA
On the occasion of World Environment
Day the new offices of the Caribbean Environmental Programme were officially
opened by Jamaicaís Minister of Environment, government officials, and
officials of environmental organizations. Documents regarding Wed and on
UNEP were distributed.
MEXICO
UNEP was present at the round table
"Health and Environment" on 10 June 1999 in which the Regional Director
of UNEP/ROLAC participated in a lecture and in the "Clean Air for Mexico
City" workshop held from 16 to 18 June 1999. It was included in all the
Latin America and Caribbean press kits with the messages from the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, the Executive Director of UNEP and the Regional
Director of UNEP/ROLAC.
UNEP/ROLAC representatives attended
two of the events organized by some states of the Mexican Republic: the
Fourth Regional Environment Wee, coordinated by the Ayuntamiento de Orizaba
Ver, and the Second Forum on Environmental Education of the Ministry of
Public Education of Nuevo Leon State.
The Government of the State of Yucatan
in Mexico, through its Secretariat for the Environment, encouraged all
municipal authorities, federal and state offices and non-governmental organizations
in Yucatan to undertake activities or organize events to celebrate World
Environment Day.
Among the events organized were reforestation
campaigns, the donation of trees for planting in residential suburbs and
housing estates, garbage cleanup campaigns, school parades, painting fences
and trimming trees, painting and photographic competitions for children
and the release of animals in protected areas and lectures.
The official celebration took place
at the "Lagunas de Yalahau" - a natural scenic area - which the Yucatan
Government had declared a protected area and national park and which occupies
an area of 5,683.28 hectares.
There was extensive coverage of the
events by the media.
At the official ceremony, presided
by the President of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo stated that in 1995 there were
89 protected natural areas with a surface of 10.7 million hectares. And
that today the figure had increased to 114 with a surface of 12 million
hectares. He added that with tolerance, reflection and awareness it would
be possible to reach agreements in favour of the environment.
Since 1993, the Mexican Government
has been presenting the Ecological Merit Award, the most distinguished
award that is granted through the Secretariat of Environment, and the Department
of Natural Resources and Fisheries (SEMARNAP). There are three categories:
a) the academic award, which acknowledges people for their outstanding
work in the scientific and technological development, b) the business award,
which recognizes industries and services that carry out actions in favour
of the environment beyond the accomplishment of legal obligations, and
c) the social award which recognizes positive results in the better use
of natural resources.
Doctor Victor Manuel Toledo, Nhumo,
S.A. de C.V., the Environmental Group Sierra Gorda de Queretaro, representatives
of the academic, business and social sectors were the winners of the 1999
Ecological Merit Awards. The jury granted two Honorary Mentions, one to
P.H. Luisa Pare Oullet from the academic sector, and the other to Ejido
de San Jacinto from Yucatan State.
SEMARNAP, through their associations throughout
the country, organized environmental awareness campaigns and the Education
and Training Centre for Sustainable Development (CECADESU) of SEMARNAP
prepared a special WED poster.
The National Institute for Ecology
organized an entire Environment Week that started on 31 May and ended on
4 June 1999. During this week, conferences on climate change, land use
management as a planning tool for environmental management, and the sustainable
use for the preservation of biodiversity in Mexico, were undertaken. In
addition, an exhibition on "Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas" was
put together and trees were donated to the public.
The Government of Mexico City also
carried out a Seminar on Culture and Sustainable Development from 31 May
to 5 June. In this event, the Secretary of Environment of the City announced
the creation of the First Environmental Museum of Mexico City that will
be established in the western part of Mexico.
The Sub-delegation of Chapultepec Forest,
the Government of Mexico City, carried out the "Conference of Citizenship
Participation" which was opened by the Head of State, in which the audience
participated in the sowing, irrigation, cleaning and recycling of the forest.
Workshops on dance, music and drama were carried out, as well as exhibitions
of automobile industry and other companies that are applying cleaner technologies.
The Mexico City government, Racetrack Las Americas, Environment Secretariat
of the City, Subway, Gas and the Sub-delegation of the Chapultepec Forest
prepared a special poster for the Expofair that was placed in all public
transportation and the metros of the city.
UNICEF, UNDP, SEMARNAP, the Environment
Secretariat of Mexico City, the Cuajimalpa Delegation, UNEP and the Environmental
Centre for the Defense of the Desierto de los Leones forest organized the
First Childrenís Summit on Environment from 24-26 May 1999, in which the
children expressed their perceptions about environmental problems and proposed
their own solutions. From this Summit a Manifesto arose and the participants
delivered it to the governmental authorities of Mexico City and was distributed
to different publications and newspapers in the country. In addition, three
radio-advertisements and two TV spots were prepared and were broadcast
widely with air time assigned by the Mexican government.
The Secretariat of Public Education
carried out the Second School Congress on Environmental Education entitled
"My commitment for the efficient use of natural resources towards the third
millennium". The automobile companies Ford Motor and General Motors Mexico
endorsed their commitment to improve the environment by promoting the use
of cleaner technologies.
The airline Mexicana de Aviacion participated
with a report on its activities in favor of the environment and a badge
with the motto and logo of WED distributed to their passengers, as well
as the messages of the United Nations Secretary General and UNEP Executive
Director. This company constantly verifies their processes and procedures
and establishes preventive measures so as to take care of the environment.
It has prepared studies on the impact on the environment, hangar risks,
waste management, garbage classification, voluntary environmental audit,
among others.
On the occasion of World Environment
Day, Iztacalco Area in Mexico City held from 4 to 18 July workshops on
Environmental Education, as well as a special WED exhibition. Likewise
the Mexican Union of Electricians organized different activities to promote
environmental awareness, including the development of posters and bulletins,
and a Guide for the Environment: work and ecology protection, which includes
protection and prevention actions focused on workersí active participation.
At the Ecology Center "Los Cuartos" in
the state of Aguascalientes, the first Childrenís Environmental Congress
took place and children came up with their own conclusions regarding soil,
water, air, flora and fauna.
Mazatlan Aquarium held a special WED
ceremony, which was attended by representatives of the municipal government
and the Education Secretariat.
The Government of Yucatan State, through
the Ecology Secretariat, called on Municipal Authorities, Federal and State
Departments and NGOs to execute actions in favour of the environment such
as reforestation and cleaning campaigns, tree-donation to reforest suburbs,
school parades, wall paintings, tree whitewash, children painting and photography
contests, animals in protected areas, and conferences.
At the official celebration which took
place in "Lagunas de Yalahau", the State Government declared it a natural
protected area that covers 5,638.28 hectares and named the State Park "Lagunas
de Yalahau".
Another event to celebrate World Environment
Day took place in the facilities of the Environmental Education Center
"Parque Mexico" in Leon, Guanajuato. It started with a ceremony expressing
the importance of a clean environment, and was attended by Ph. Jorge Gomez
Salazar, Ph. Maria Isabel Diaz Cisneros, BA Ma. Rose Aguinaco, local government
authorities; Architect Adriana Robles Almada, General Director and Biologist
Jaime Samperio, Deputy Director at Environment and Ecology Department;
BA Fabiola Moreno Villegas, Deputy Director of CEAPM, and Ph. Luis Domingo
Duran, Director of National Resources. At the end of the ceremony, 26 workshops
for 1300 students began their activities under the supervision of Sapal,
Parks and Gardens, Natural Resources and two workshops led by CEAPM.
PARAGUAY
Regarding the World Environment Day,
the National Library on Agriculture (BINA) of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Livestock and the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Paraguay
organized an exhibition on 4-11 July where books, posters and videos on
the United Nations system and the environment was displayed.
The Fair Opening ceremony was chaired
by the Director of BINA, the Vice-Minister of the Environment and Natural
Resources, the UNDP Resident Coordinator and Director of UNIC. UNIC distributed
the messages of the United Nations Secretary General and of the Executive
Director of UNEP. It also coordinated interviews for the Director of UNIC
with the newspapers: ABC Color, Ultima Hora
and Noticias El Diario; with TV Channel 9 and with the radio
stations Cardinal, Primero del Marzo and Trinidad.
Atyra, the cleanest city in the country,
celebrated World Environment Day in La Plaza de Los Heroes. The Farming
Engineer Calixto Saguier and the Vice-Minister of Environment and Natural
Resources of the Agriculture and Livestock Department, attended this event
in order to support local authorities and Atyra citizens in the actions
executed to protect the environment. Casilda Rios de Godoy, pedagogic coordinator
at the First Environmental Institute of Teachers Training, presented a
project carried out by students to improve their neighborhoodís environment.
The Seminar on Public Policies and
Environmental Legislation was carried out at the Paraguay Hotel within
the framework of World Environment Day. The topic being studied by the
experts of the sector is the creation of an Environment Ministry, the central
part of the agenda was the existing environmental legislation and its implementation.
The official ceremony was attended by
the Health Minister, Martin Chiola, the Attorney General Anibal Cabrera
Veron, the Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice
Carlos Fernandez Gadea, and the representative
of the Panamerican Health Organization/World Health Organization (PHO/WHO)
Diego Victoria. Authorities and staff members of the National Environmental
Cleaning up Service, the University Cooperation, the National University
of Asuncion, the Ministry of Agriculture and different municipalities of
the country, among other institutions also attended.
On 5 June, the Environment Secretariat
in Aregua launched a waste-recycling programme that will be carried out
with the collaboration of students and teachers from schools that work
in split shifts. The event took place at the Cultural Center as part of
the commemoration of WED and was attended by Governor Martin F. Sannermann,
state officials, as well as state and city councilors. The objective was
to raise awareness of the school population so as to preserve the environment
through appropriate management of solid wastes.
PERU
It is very important for the National
Environment Council (CONAM) that the media deals with the priority environmental
issues of the country by promoting public opinion and citizenship participation
in the solution of these problems, and creating environmental awareness
among them. That is why CONAM organized a business lunch in which 30 representatives
of the most important media in Peru participated.
CONAM worked with Peru-ecological 99
in a free environmental video campaign on Peruvian natural resources aimed
at students in order to create environmental awareness among them. More
than 300 students of the Friends of the United Nations enthusiastically
participated.
ADEESE, carried out the First Workshop
on Sustainable Development addressed to boys and girls from three schools
of Lima, who established their environment priorities and captured them
in drawings, poems, short stories and case studies which will help to prepare
the Peru Millennium Report that will be presented during the youth meeting
in Hawaii, USA in October 1999.
SAN SALVADOR
In collaboration with the Ministry
of Environment and Natural Resources, World Environment Day in San Salvador
was celebrated with a number of positive environmental messages reaching
thousands of people. Activities undertaken included parades, exhibitions
and conferences that underlined the importance of conserving our natural
resources.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
The celebration of World Environment
Day in Trinidad & Tobago was well attended and the participation of
citizens encouraging. Participants included schools, community groups and
the private sector. In addition, awards were presented to children and
community groups for their outstanding environmental projects.
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