Around the World

                       New Feature: WED Pictures from Around the World

Africa - Asia/Pacific - Europe - Latin America/Caribbean - North America - West Asia

Every year World Environment Day is celebrated around the world. We invite you, your country, your city, your town or your village to celebrate this day with us.To advertise and share the activities you are planning, please contact
Ms. Elisabeth.Guilbaud-Cox

Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Environment Day 2004
[English] [Français] [Spanish] [Russian] [Chinese] [Arabic]

Message of Mr. Ruud Lubbers, High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on the occasion of World Environment Day 2004
[English]

AFRICA

Bujumbura, Burundi
In Burundi, the Ministry of Environment organized week-long festivities to celebrate World Environment Day throughout the country. From June 4-11, the people of Burundi were further sensitized to the need to protect their country’s natural resources, while decision-makers were urged to take the environment into account when planning for the country’s development and post-war reconstruction.

The activities held during Environment Week in Burundi covered a variety of topics. In addition to the theme of WED 2005, the activities, which included a competition between youth environmental clubs, workshops, clean-up campaigns and the naming of environmental journalist of the year, also addressed deforestation, wildfires and land degradation.

For more information, please contact:
Le Ministère de l’Aménagement du territoire,
de l’environnement et du tourisme
B.P. 631 Bujumbura
Burundi

Egyptian Red Sea
June 5th was celebrated on the Red Sea coast of Egypt from Hurghada to Wadi El Gemal National Park with underwater, beach and mangrove clean-ups and events to honor all those who participated in protecting this valuable resource. Dr. Moustafa Fouda, Director of the Nature Conservation Sector of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), inspired collective action. Together, the Red Sea Rangers, the USAID-funded Red Sea Sustainable Development Project and the Academy for Educational Development, joined forces with the Red Sea Governorate, the Red Sea Diving & Water sports Association, and HEPCA to sponsor these activities. More on the events.

For more information, please contact:
Cheryl Groff & John McEachern
Hurghada, EGYPT
E-mail: jmceachern@eepp-psu.org

Tripoli, Lybia
To commemorate the WED this year, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Tripoli, Lybia organized a one- week campaign on the environment for the general public under the title "Cleaning the Beach". This activity was organized by the International Organization for Peace, Care and Relief, the Canadian Embassy, Scouts and Guides and other NGO's. A drawing competition was also organized by the Canadian Embassy with the support of commercial firms.

On 5 June, the General Authority for Environment, the Gaddafi Foundation for Relief and a number of NGOs celebrated WED on the campus of the General Environment Authority in Tripoli. In addition, a seminar was held and a number of speeches delivered by higher officials on this occasion.

UNIC also distributed information materials prepared especially for WED. The Secretary-General's WED message in Arabic was sent to the major local newspapers. Books, pamphlets and information materials received from DPI, as well as posters on the environment and the UN in general, were also distributed.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Habiba Gamoudi,
Information Assistant
UNIC, Tripoli, Lybia

Kisumu, Kenya
The Kenya Neem Foundation, under the leadership of Ms. Perin Fitter, (better known as Mama Neem) will be celebrating WED in Kericho by promoting the use of the neem products and educating the public about its various uses.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Perrin Fitter
P.O. Box 1268
Kisumu, Kenya

Ahoada, Nigeria
Earth Skin Conservation Foundation (ESCF) Nigeria - an environmental NGO will, once again, marks WED by advancing environmental activism at the local level, through advocacy, public education, and coalition building. Activities planned by ESCF include:

Post Primary School Essay Competition
Topic: Our Environment and the 21st century
Date: 6 May - 5 June 2004

Public Lecture
Topic: WANTED! SEA AND OCEANS - DEAD OR ALIVE?
Date: 5 June 2004

Official Launch of Earth Skin Newsletter: Safeguarding the Earth
Date: 5 June 2004
Venue: Information Centre Ahoada Town Ahoada East Local
Government Area Rivers State Nigeria.

For more information, please contact:
Philip Ndu Echeya
President (escf) Nigeria
Phone: (+234) 0803-3407740
E-Mail: earthskinfoundation@yahoo.com

Monrovia, Liberia
The Environment Theme Group of Liberia, under the direction and guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency and with support from the UNDP Country Office, will observe World Environment Day in the Capital, Monrovia. Activities are planned for three days.

3 June
1. Outreach programmes to schools, communities and internally displaced people's camps for public awareness about importance of oceans and seas.
2. Radio talk show on Radio Veritas

4 June
1. Bicycle race: a contest for young people and former combatants
2. Radio talk show on United Nations Radio in Liberia

5 June
1. World Environment Day Parade
2. Indoor Programme at the Monrovia City Hall Theatre

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ben Turtur Donnie
Biodiversity Unit
United Nations Development Programme
Simpson Building, Mamba Point
Monrovia, Liberia
tel: 231 226211
E-Mail: ben.donnie@undp.org, benturturdonnie@yahoo.com

Ondo State, Nigeria
The World Environment Day project is divided into three components:

VOLUNTEERS TRAINING
The goal of this part of the project is to raise environmental awareness at the community level by sharing knowledge and transferring some of the skills needed to improve sanitation, prevention and conservation of the environment.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH / EDUCATION
The enhancement of environmental protection and conservation in coastal communities in Ondo State requires advocacy and sustained public education, which would achieve a change in poor domestic and public waste disposal practice and environmental pollution. This could be achieved by developing the capacity of the people in the community via ‘Civic- environmentalism” to deal with the issue of environmental pollution.

Universe Protectors proposes to extend its community outreach activities to the following centers.
(1) AKURE (OJA OBA)
(2) OKITIPUPA WATER FRONT
(3) IGBOKODA WATER FRONT
(4.) IGBEKEBO WATER FRONT

ROUND TABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
This final aspect of the project is a public lecture series on areas of importance in sustainable sea an ocean development in Ondo State. Papers will be presented by professionals, administrators and stake holders in the environmental sector. At the end of the lectures a roundtable discussion will evolve.

Portharcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
The Niger Delta Leaders Forum, in conjunction with the Niger Delta Development Commission (an agency of the federal government of Nigeria) is organising a National Summit/workshop in Nigeria to discuss the future environmental impact of Oil exploration on the Niger Delta.

For more information, please contact:
ORLUKWU . G. JOHNSON
Chairman,
Organising Committee.
Tel. 234-8033092188
Portharcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
E-mail: gtimeintl@yahoo.com

Accra, Ghana
Earth Service, an environmental NGO in Ghana will launch UNEP's Plant for the Planet campaign on the occasion of World Environment Day. Some 1,500 people are expected to participate in the event including children from various schools, representatives of UNDP, FAO, UNIC, UNFPA, government ministries, corporations and the media as well as a number of NGOs. Special guests will include the Minister of Environment and Science and the Minister for Lands and Forestry.

The Campaign will include the establishment of tree nurseries and tree planting programmes in selected schools in the capital, Accra.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Joshua Awuku-Apaw
Earth Service
Accra,Ghana
E-mail: awukapaw@yahoo.co.uk

Kericho District, Kenya
On the occasion of WED this year, the National Environment Management Authority Cereals Board in Kericho District, Kenya are organizing a wide range of activities as a build-up, during and after the day. Activities include: tree planting, wetlands conservation, clean-up, soil conservation, environmental competition among schools and communities, drama and a programme to promote the development of a culture of environmental care. Various institutions, private companies, churches, schools, community based organizations and government departments are expected to participate.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. O. Z. Ouma
District Environment Officer-Kericho
National Environment Management Authority
Cereals Board
P. O. Box 976
Kericho, Kenya

Ibadan, Nigeria
A group of young people at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria plans to raise awareness about WED 2004, by organizing a green concert on June 5th, as well as a public lecture and clean-ups.

For more information, please contact:
Bunmi Sodipo
Email: bunmidipo@yahoo.com

Cotonou, Benin
The Agency of Young Reporters of Environment and Health in Benin (AYOREB) is organising on the occasion of World Environment Day a Youth-led March to disseminate information about the need to protect the environment. This event will be followed by a live Debate/Conference on the State of the Environment in Benin today and what the youth can do.

For more information, please contact:
Djossou Gbemiga Christophe
CEO of Ayoreb
09 P.O. Box 278
Cotonou
Benin
Tel: 00229 69 84 55
Email: gbemiga2@yahoo.co.uk
ayoreb2@yahoo.co.uk
ayoreb@columnist.com

Zaria, Nigeria
The Campus Action For A Responsive Environment - ABU (CARE-ABU), a campus-based environment organisation in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, will sensitise the student body and the university community of the need to protect the environment by organizing World Environment Day activities. Their celebrations will include the following among others:
1. Seminars/Lectures On Environmental Issues
2. Exhibitions and Poster Sessions
3. Photo and Essay Competitions and a
4. Mini Tree Planting Campaign

For more information, please contact:
Agbo, B Jerome (Coordinator, CARE-ABU),
P.O. Box 29 ABU Post Office,
Faculty Of Education,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 810001,
Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Email: care.abu.zaria@africamail.com

Ifrane, Morocco
The Center of Environmental Issues & Regional development, Alakhawayn University is organizing a workshop entitled Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency - Responsibility of all for the sustainable development of the Middle Atlas.

High human pressure on the forests of the Middle Atlas and the absence of local and regional alternative energy strategies, as well as limited environmental awareness programmes will be reviewed and discussed with the various stakeholders (forestry department, community representatives, NGOs, local government, private sector, media representatives, research centers, academic units, among other). Recommendations for appropriate energy alternatives and environmental education programmes for the community will be made. A context of renewable energy projects (painting, renewable energy prototypes in schools) will be part of the World Environment Day. An exhibition of books and renewable energy equipment will be shown. In addition, a tree planting programme and the monitoring of previous environmental activities will take place in various schools in Ifrane city.

For more information, please contact:
Pr Bachir Raissouni, Ph.d
Executive Director
AUI Center of Environmental Issues and Regional Development (AUI CEIRD)
Alakhawayn University, B.P 1884 Ifrane 53000 Morocco
Email: B.Raissouni@Alakhawayn.ma
URL: http://www.ceird.ma

Curepipe, Mauritius
The purpose of this project is to attract people’s attention and to get people to actively participate in cleaning a fallow land located on Pope Hennessy Rd in Curepipe in order to regain fertility for future crop. The project consists of creating a botanical garden, a retaining wall, a path, educational tours and a parking lane of 180 metres long to promote sustainable social and ecological development. The botanical garden will act as a springboard to a large network of eco-citizens, in an effort to promote eco tourism and and eco-philosophy and to foster sustainable behavior in the community.

For more information, please contact:
Jean Michel Laurent
1 Daruty de Grand pre.
Curepipe Rd
Mauritius
Email: j_michel_laurent@hotmail.com

[TOP]

ASIA and PACIFIC

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok
For WED 2004, the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has organized an Asia-Pacific regional arts competition on the WED theme seas and oceans, as well as a WED event in Bangkok, focusing on the work of the Thai Youth Environment Network and the establishment of a sub-regional youth environment network. On 5 June activities in Bangkok focussed on the announcement of the regional painting competition winners. Press release.
Winning entries.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Higham
Regional Information Officer
UNEP, Bangkok
Email: higham@un.org.
URL: www.roap.unep.org

Bhubaneswar, India
The Orissa Environmental Society observed WED with great enthusiasm. On the occasion, a seminar was organized in which about 150 scientists, educators, administrators, planners and nature-lovers participated. The event revolved around the aptly chosen theme Wanted! Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive, and the speakers discussed in detail the diverse aspects of the theme. The programmes were as follows:

A. Inaugural Session: The speakers focused on:
- Pollution of seas and oceans
- Impacts of climate change on them
- Impacts of over-exploitation of their resources
B. Technical Session: The speakers presented research
findings on :
- Status of marsh crocodiles of the state of Orissa
- Status of sharks in the marine waters of Orissa

For more information, please contact:
Dr. JK Panigrahi, Secretary,
Orissa Environmental Society,
Bhubaneswar - 751 015, India.
Email: jk_panigrahi@sancharnet.in

Chennai, India
On the occasion of World Environment Day, M.C.T.M Chidambaram Chettyar Matricukation Higher Secondary School worked towards the International school award Project under the aegis of the British Council. They were linked with a school in Doncaster, United Kingdom. They also established a link with a school in Poland. All the children celebrated WED on 25 June 2004. Some of the activities undertaken included a slogan competition, distribution of paper bags to both children and parents, the planting of saplings on the school premises. The students collectively took an oath to protect nature, and wore a badge which was exclusively prepared for the occasion. The best slogans were awarded prizes and the prizes were sent to the link schools as well.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Shanti Krishnamurthy
M.CT.M Chidambaram Chettyar Matricukation Higher Secondary School
179, Luz Church Road
Mylapore
India
Tel: 91-044-24995847
E-mail: krish@absolutum.com
Website: www.mctmschools.com

Penang, Malaysia
In conjunction with World Environment Day this year, the WorldFish Center headquarters in Penang, Malaysia organized an awareness program for our staff. WED posters were placed in strategic locations within the office complex. Various articles about this year's theme,'Wanted: Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?' were also circulated.

A special staff gathering was organized on June 4, 2004 to mark the occasion of World Environment Day. Staff members were treated to a short video clip on the state of the oceans. This led to discussions on ways staff could contribute to the environment.

Activities planned for the near future include a one-day cleanup of the neighbouring mangrove swamp and an International Coastal Cleanup to be led by the WorldFish Center with the participation of the local community and various organizations in the vicinity.

For more information, please contact:
Marco Noordeloos
WorldFish Center
Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung
11960 Bayan Lepas
Penang
Malaysia
Email:m.noordeloos@cgiar.org
URL: www.worldfishcenter.org

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
On the occasion of World Environment Day I have organised a painting competition for school children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Some 3000-4000 school children participated. The theme of the competition is "Amar Sobuz Bangla" (this is in Bengali) which means My Green Country.

Government officials and the media were invited in order to stress the importance of the occasion and also to pass on the message of a Healthy Environment to the people of Bangladesh.

The paintings will be exhibited in an exhibition hall, which will be open to the public.

For more information, please contact:
Masud Ali
Email: masudali@rediffmail.com

Malaya, Malaysia
On 29 May 2004, the Environmental Education Program Rimba Ilmu of University Malaya, Malaysia is launching at the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden Building the second Children's Art Show to coincide with World Environment Day.

The Art Show is jointly organized by the University of Malaya, the Malaysian Nature Society and the Impact Art Programme in support of WED - 5 June.

An exhibition of 50 paintings on nature by a group of children will take place. A silent auction of the paintings will be held, and 60 per cent of the funds raised will be donated to Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden.

The Art Show will be open from 29 May to 6 June 2004
10.00am to 4.00pm (weekday) {close for lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm}
10.00am to 1.pm (weekend)

For more information, please contact:
I.S. Shanmugaraj
Senior Education Officer
Email: zahid@um.edu.my
URL: http://www.um.edu.my

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
A unique feature of this year’s World Environment Day celebrations in Sri Lanka is that a comprehensive programme has been organized in Anuradhapura on the theme of “Protecting Biodiversity and Culture” by the Sri Lanka Nature Forum (SLNF), i.e. the network of member organizations benefiting from the UNDP’s GEF-Small Grants Program.

Anuradhapura has been selected by SLNF as the location for this year’s celebrations for the reason that conservation of environment is inherently tied to the conservation of heritage. This city, perhaps more than any other, symbolizes a way of life that took as its foundational principle the notion of sustainable livelihoods. The architects of the Anuradhapura civilization knew that right livelihood included a concerted effort to protect ecosystems and maintain the delicate balance of environmental cycles. Celebrating Heritage and Sustainable Livelihoods in Anuradhapura. Detailed programme.

For more information, please contact:
Shireen Samarasuriya
GEF/SGP National Coordinator Sri Lanka
Email: shireen.samarasuriya@undp.org

Macquarie Island, Tasmania
Michele Thums and her fellow expeditioners of the Australian Antarctic Program are planning a marine debris clean-up day on Macquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic. Macquarie Island is a Nature Reserve under the administration of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia. It is also a World Heritage Area and has an Australian Antarctic Base located at its Northern Tip. She is one of 18 expeditioners who live and work there for a year. The expeditioners range from trades people to meteorological observers to scientists like Michele.

The island is half way between Australia and Antarctica and given its position in the southern ocean, collects a lot of marine debris, much of which is fishing related and dangerous to wildlife. The participants are proposing to clean up the west coast of the island as this is where the prevailing wind comes from and where the bulk of the debris is located.

For more information, please contact:
Michele Thums
Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit
School of Zoology
University of Tasmania
Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Australia
Email: michel_thu@macca.aad.gov.au

Aitken Hill, Australia
Aitken Hill, Australia's only purpose built conference and events venue is set on 170 acres of rolling countryside just 25 minutes from Melbourne's city centre.

Years ago the area surrounding Aitken Hill's property was cleared for farming and as part of their commitment to nurturing the environment, they have set up a five year regeneration programme (currently in its third year) to ensure that suitable Australian native flora is replanted on our site.

This year, Aitken Hill will be planting 500 trees and shrubs on 5 June to help promote World Environment Day 2004. The WED logo and a short description about the day on the centre's messaging screens, which are located within the building and accommodation rooms, will help create awareness amongst the hundreds of people that pass through our building weekly.

Aitken Hill is committed to making a conscious effort to sustain our environment, not only for Australia, but also for the world at large.

For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Adams
Promotions Coordinator
Aitken Hill, Australia's Leading Conference and Event Venue
Email: promotions@aitkenhill.com
URL: http://www.aitkenhill.com.au

Karachi, Pakistan
This year, on the occasion of WED, the Society for Environment of Pakistan (SEP), a newly established non-profit organization, is organizing in collaboration with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the Government of Sindh, a seminar based on the WED theme Wanted! Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive? - Friday 4 June 2004 at the Arts Council in Karachi.

For more information, please contact:
Shabbir Ibne Adil
Chairman
Society for Environment of Pakistan (SEP)
Karachi
Pakistan
Email: shabbir@environmenttv.org

Balikpapan, Indonesia
To commemorate World Environment Day this year, the Save the Balikpapan Bay Foundation, a local coastal NGO in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia is conducting a public awareness campaign entitled "Save The Bay Now!". The campaign includes activities such as beach hiking, beach clean-up and the planting of mangrove trees, as well as children competitions (e.g. sand castle, coloring, poetry reading, essay writing and singing), a fair and bazaar, and interactive dialogues. The dialogue will be undertaken in partnership with a local FM radio station and a newspaper to discuss various local issues related to the WED theme, such as coastal-sound city planning, beach reclamation, oil spill and pollution, and mangrove conversion for mariculture, to name a few. See the brochure for more information.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. M. Putrawidjaja (Ciput)
Yayasan Selamatkan Teluk Balikpapan
Jl. RE. Martadinata No. 2, RT 26,
Mekar Sari, Balikpapan 76122
INDONESIA
Email: savethebaynow@balikpapanbay.or.id

Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is recognized as one of the Biodiversity hotspots in the world. Rainforest Rescue International (RRI) is dedicated to promoting the conservation of tropical rainforest in a manner that will lead to longlasting social, economic and environmental benefits to the people in
and around the rainforests of southern Sri Lanka.

This year, RRI will launch an awareness programme for 10 selected schools in Galle and Matara districts, to commemorate this special day. The initiative is part of a national programme coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Recourses and the participation of the relevant Municipal Councils of the two districts, which are the main coastal towns in the country.

The main event organized by RRI will ake place at the Town Hall Galle on 5 June from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 pm followed by a tree planting excercise, the showing of a rare 30 minute film on " Biodiversity of the Sea" and a poster competition.

A beach cleaning programme will be organized in collaboration with the Municipal Council of Matara, the University of Ruhuna and several environmental organizations. At 7.00 p.m., a film on "Biodiversity on Sea" will be screened at the main bus station, Matara which, it is hoped, will
attract more than 1,000 participants.

The aim of the WED events is to enhance environmental knowledge of urban communities; empower people to become active agents to challenging attitudes towards the various environmental issues in the country.

For more information, please contact:
Robin Lock
Executive Director
Rainforest Rescue International (RRI)
Future Initiative Centre for Sustainable Development (FICSD)
P.O.Box 119
Galle
Sri Lanka
Email: robinrri@sltnet.lk
Email: robinlock@bigfoot.com
URL: www.rain4est.org

Rajshahi, Bangladesh
The University of Rajshahi in Bangladesh will, once again, commemorate World Environment Day. The Dean of the Biological Science Faculty has formed an organizing committee comprising both students and teachers. They will discuss the current issues of local, national and global environment especially about the Bay of Bengal, the sea of crucial importance. The agricultural chemicals and pesticide residues are carried to the sea by the network of 300 or so rivers and are accumulating; the ground water contamination with arsenic and associated impacts, effects of global warming on our sea and the coastal area, over exploitation of marine and inland aquatic resources will be discussed.
There will be an open discussion encouraging the students to participate. In addition, a poster and photo exhibition will be arranged.

For more information, please contact:
Prof. M.I.Zuberi
University of Rajshahi
Bangladesh
Email: zuberimi@hotmail.com

Osaka, Japan
The UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) located in Osaka is preparing a photo exhibition entitled "Sea, Oceans and Watershed Links" for World Environment Day and as one of the events for celebrating the IETC 10-year anniversary, which will be held from June 5 to June 12 at the IETC & ILEC center foyer.

The Nippon TV has also expressed it's interest in hosting the exhibition in it's special program titled "ECO-Weekend" on June 4-6. The venue will be the Nippon TV 's event hall at Shiodome in Tokyo where the Nippon TV just moved last year.

For more information, please contact:
Junko Ochi
Senior Liaison Officer
UNEP/DTIE/International Technology Centre(IETC)
Email: junko.ochi@unep.or.jp
URL: http://www.unep.or.jp

Clean Up the World activities in Cambodia
Ministry of Environment : Meeting and discussions to take place, along with tree planting to celebrate this global event.

For more information, please contact:
Nop Nimol
Email: moelab@bigpond.com.kh

Clean Up the World activities in India
East Coast Research and Development : Beach clean up at Thoothukudi to celebrate World Environment Day. 300 volunteers expected i

For more information, please contact:
Pushpa Victoria
Email: yazhini@sancharnet.in

Set-Win Society : Clean Up Campaign to remove garbage from five target villages will take place in the first week of June.

For more information, please contact:
Selvam Pudumai Vedamuthu
Email: set-1@eth.net

Clean Up the World activities in Nepal
Nepal Australia Community Resource Management and Livelihoods : Tree Planting Day. Mobilising local schools and communities to plant trees and grasses on roadsides and erosion sites in Kabhre and Sindhu districts of Nepal.

For more information, please contact:
Ruth Osborne
Email: ruth@nacrmlp.wlink.com.np

Clean Up the World activities in Pakistan

Human Resource Social Welfare Society International : Will celebrate WED with an Environmental Award Ceremony in Peshawar. The Ceremony will be the culmination of a 3 month campaign which commenced with Earth Day celebrations in April. Organisers estimate 1 million people will participate during the 3 month period.

For more information, please contact:
Muhammed Idrees Khan
Email: info_hrsws@yahoo.com

Women Awareness & Development Organisation Pakistan : Working in conjunction with Human Resource Social Welfare Society International

For more information, please contact:
Zakia Noreen Khattak Zakia
Phone: 092 303 6902322
Email: info_wado@yahoo.com

Sabawon : World Environment Day Walk. This Clean Up event will utilise waste bins placed in the streets of Hyderabad and Peshawar.

For more information, please contact:
Mohammad Tasiq
Phone: 092 303 6902322
Email:mohammed.tasiq@sabawon.org

Queensland, Australia
Hannaford’s Events, an Australian based company that owns an exciting new theater event product called Flames Of The Forest (FOTF) – Theatre of light and shadow, which was pioneered with Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and launched last year. Through this special event guests can experience a theatre/dining and cultural event set in the rainforests of tropical north Queensland Australia.
For World Environment Day, FOTF will be launching an Australian first - the 000 (One person, One tree, One world) concept - regeneration project where every participant discovers they have generated the planting of one tree on Australian soil as they are entertained in the stunning surroundings of the rainforest during the FOTF evening.

For more information, please contact:
Nick Hannaford
Hannaford's Events Pty Ltd.,
Trading as Hannaford's Events and Flames of the Forest
Tel Sydney - 02 93562909
Tel Queensland - 07 40982755
Email: nick@hannafords.com.au
URL:http://www.hannafords.com.au
URL: http://www.flamesoftheforest.com.au

Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
As an Island community, residents of Kangaroo Island in South Australia have a close connection to the sea and a strong desire to see the marine environment of their island protected.

In keeping with this year's World Environment Day (WED) theme, Kingscote Area School has undertaken a study of the marine environment with the participation of the whole school. The results, outlined in a brochure, will be launched on WED.

In addition to this will be the unveiling of a very large artwork created by students (with the aid of a local artist) from beach litter collected from around the island. Other material regarding the marine environment will also be available at the exhibit. The school will join with other island community groups with a similar focus on the integrity of the marine environment to make the day a great celebration of commitment to this cause.

The event will be held on the Queenscliffe Lawns, Dauncey Street, Kingscote from 9:30 through to 4 pm.

For more information, please contact:
Phyl Bartram or Scott Johnston
Telephone 61 8 85532074
Kingscote Area School, 5 Centenary Ave,
Kingscote
South Australia 5223
Email: sjohnsto@kingscotas.sa.edu.au

Srinagar, Kashmir, India
In an effort to develop capacity building among the school children, this year Valley Commonwealth Public School is planning to observe World Environment Day by inviting the almost 20 schools to participate in the week-long events, which will include a painting competition, clean-up drives, and eco-demonstrations, to name a few.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Rifat manzoor
Coordinator
Out Reach Research Programme
Valley Commonwealth Public School
Rampora Chattabal
Srinagar, Kashmir 190010
INDIA
Email: sabeena_77@yahoo.com

Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh is launching UNEP’s Plant for the Planet Campaign on World Environment Day, 5 June 2004. STEP (Striving Towards Environmental Protection) - a local NGO - will organize the event, which has been officially endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), and will be funded by various partners. The Honourable Minister of MOEF will be present on this occasion.

Four rural and four urban schools have been chosen to participate. Rural schools have more space, therefore, there is a huge opportunity to expand this programme by starting nurseries and involving the community in planting trees. On the other hand, urban schools are starved for space. The urban children hardly get a chance to plant trees. This programme will give them an opportunity to plant trees, learn more about local species and fruits, nurture the plants over a long period of time and also raise awareness about environmental issues inside the schools and outside.

In addition to planting trees, there will be thematic programme, poster and painting competitions in each school on World Environment Day.

For more information, please contact:
Afifa Raihana
House 98, Road 25, Block

Banani, Dhaka - 1213
Bangladesh
Email: step@agni.com

St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia
On the occasion of World Environment Day 2004, Coastcare in conjunction with Quiksilver Boardriders Club, will be hosting an environmental rehabilitation and education day at the world famous Bells Beach known for its surfing. Everyone is invited to come along and join in the revegetation of indigenous plants around the Winkipop area and come on an environmental interpretative tour.

If you can’t make it down on Saturday to Bells, why not come to a similar event at St Kilda. There will be habitat re-establishment for St Kilda’s fairy penguin population, indigenous plantings at West Beach, interpretative walks, food and family entertainment. There will also be cameras and TVs so you can see what is actually under the pier and to find out what the destructive Northern Pacific Seastar is doing to the bay.

For more information, please contact:
Matthew Redd or Siân Jones
Tel. 0403 792 773
Email: smjo@deakin.edu.au
URL : www.earthcarestkilda.org.au

Alice Springs, Australia
Ever imagined Central Australia covered in a vast inland ocean with all sorts of sea creatures swimming around? Evidence of these seashore relatives still exist here today. This World Environment Day (WED) find out what you can do to look after our precious oceans and waterways from right here in the heart of Australia.

The Alice Springs Desert Park is organizing from 1.30 to 3.00pm on WED a special event under the WED theme: Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?. This activity will be of the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission (NTPWC) Junior Ranger Programme. Young people between the ages of 9 and 14 need to be enrolled in the programme, which is free. They can do this by contacting the Ranger on (08) 89518247. This number can also be used to book for the activity as attendance numbers need to be confirmed.

For more information, please contact:
Kylie Green
Park Guide , Alice Springs Desert Park
PO Box 2130
Alice Springs
Northern Territory 0871
Australia
Email: ASDPGuides.PWCNT@PLMBAY.PWCNT.NT.GOV.AU

Western Australia
This year on World Environment Day (WED), the United Nations Association in Western Australia (UNAA-WA) is planning a Photographic Exhibition of Marine and Coastal Environments, in conjunction with Millennium Kids, the Conservation and Land Management Department, the Australian Nature Conservancy, the Marine and Coastal Community Network, and the South Fremantle Primary School.

The exhibition will run for two weeks in the State Library, and will feature videos, photographs, and other visual information on the condition of Australia's ocean coastline, which covers 12,000 kilometres. In particular, it will show the condition of the marine conservation areas, and restoration and rehabilitation projects.

For more information, please contact:
Caroline Pembroke
Event Convenor
Event co-ordinated by Environment Sub-committe of the UNAA-WA.
Email: lwl@iinet.net.au

Gold Coast, Australia
Gecko - Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council are once again hosting the regional World Environment Day 'do!' community festival, to celebrate our precious Planet Earth. The 'do!' will showcase environmental products and solutions, and will feature fantastic music and live performances, childrens' activities, market stalls, gourmet food, an art gallery and government and industry representation.

The 'do!' is a free, family celebration, and is held on the banks of the beautiful Currumbin Estuary on the Gold Coast. It is a wondrous and wonderful celebration of community, environment and culture, and is a focal point in our remembering that 'what we do changes the world!'

For more information, please contact:
Dominic Farnworth
Event Convenor
Email: bewilderness@austarnet.com.au

Uijongbu, Republic of Korea
This year the United States Army, United States Forces Korea (USFK), Better Opportunities for Single and Unaccompanied Service Members (BOSS) Program, Camp Red Cloud, Area 1 will plant a tree in celebration of World Environment Day.

For more information, please contact:
Wayne Whetzel
SPC, USA
Executive Assistant
CRC BOSS President
Email:wayne.whetzel@us.army.mil

Nelson Bay , Australia
On 5 - 6 June, the Nelson Bay Town Management in Australia will be celebrating its second annual Festival of The Whales to coincide with World Environment Day and the this year's theme Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive? The festival marks the commencement of the annual whale migration along Australia's East Coast and is also a celebration of the local marine environment here in Port Stephens - one of Australia's premier dolphin and whale watch centres.

For more information, please contact:
David Cromarty
Email: nbtm@nelsonbay.com

Sydney, Australia
The Bondi Pavilion Community & Cultural Centre and the Marine Discovery Centre Bondi Beach are planning events at Bondi Beach in Sydney and at a number of University Campuses around Australia.

For more information, please contact:
Will Jones
Executive Director
Marine Discovery Centre Bondi Beach Inc.
Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive
Bondi Beach NSW 2026 AUSTRALIA
Email: marinediscovery@bigpond.com
URL: www.marinediscovery.org.au

Bangkok,Thailand
For WED 2004, the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is planning an Asia-Pacific regional arts competition on the WED theme seas and oceans, as well as a WED event in Bangkok, focussing on the work of the Thai Youth Environment Network and the establishment of a sub-regional youth environment network. A number of other events throughout the region will also take place.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Higham
Information Officer
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
BANGKOK
Tel. + 66 2288 2127
Email: higham@un.org
URL: www.roap.unep.org

Kolkata, India
This year, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Foundation will again commemorate World Environment Day by organising an awareness camp for people from all walks of life and by putting together an exhibition of posters and essays produced by students.

For more information, please contact:
Manjit Dada
ceo
Swami Vivekananda Cultural Foundation
Email: manjitdada@hotmail.com
URL: www.svcf.faithweb.com

[TOP]

EUROPE

Athens, Greece
On 5 June, the Athens Environmental Foundation (AEF), in partnership with the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) and UNEP, is undertaking with Jean-Michel Cousteau a special event in Piraeus, Greece on the occasion of World Environment Day. Activities will include:

A beach clean up at several beaches around Athens, including Piraeus - the Port of Athens, as well as an underwater clean up with hundreds of divers in several spots in Greece, including Piraeus. Five vessels will be present, three will remove large debris from the sea bed, including cars and refrigerators. In addition, municipal trucks will haul the debris for recycling and/or disposal. The other two vessels will do a demonstration of oil spill containment.

Prior to this event, a ship with two divers will go on site and survey what is underground, map it and give it to Mr. Cousteau and his team who will be leading this expedition.

Participating in the event will be ATHOC, IOC and Government officials, as well as thousands of citizens and local and international media (the BBC is taping the event). The Executive Director of UNEP, Mr. Klaus Toepfer will be connected live via satellite from Barcelona where the main international celebrations will be taking place.

In the same location, the city will organize a reception around the Olympic Pool where synchronized swimmers of the Greek team will do an exhibition, which will be shown to a larger audience outside on a giant screen.

AEF Executive Director Tony Diamantidis (left) with Olympic Environmental Ambassador and AEF Board member Jean-Michel Cousteau, who will be visiting Athens for the third time before the 2004 Olympic Games in June 2004, to support environmental awareness in Greece and globally.

For more information, please contact:
In Europe
Dr. Elvira Bazaca
EU Director
Athens Environmental Foundation
Email: elbazaca@otenet.gr
URL: http://www.athensenvironmental.org/

Gland, Switzerland
The three environmental organizations based in Gland, Switzerland - IUCN, Ramsar and WWF - joined forces to host a well-attended open house on World Environment Day, helping to put Gland on the map in Switzerland as a true world centre for conservation and sustainable development. Between 800 and 1000 people passed through the doors of IUCN Headquarters, where adults and children were both entertained and educated by an extensive marine exhibition and a multitude of imaginative children's games in line with the day's UNEP-declared theme of "Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?". A film was presented on IUCN's Marine Programme and water-themed improvisation was staged. There were expert-guided tours on the hour through IUCN's natural garden. The day ended with over 130 prizes being given out in a Tombola draw that included thousands donated by local commerce and IUCN suppliers. Local and regional press, radio and TV gave excellent coverage to the event. "Our World Environment Day open house has grown every year in both scope and vision and the public has responded accordingly," says Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General. "It is our chance to give something back to the community and region that so generously hosts our headquarters." More.

For more information, please contact:
Mark Wagner
Global Communications Officer
Chargé de communications
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
Rue Mauverney 28
1196 Gland
Switzerland
Email: mark.wagner@iucn.org
URL: http://iucn.org
World Environment Day special web site: http://www.iucn.org/wed2004/welcome.htm

Brussels, Belgium
UNEP's Brussels office has created a "special edition" of UNEP Brussels newsletter on the occasion of WED.

For more information, please contact:
Sylvie Motard
Liaison Officer
UNEP Liaison Office in Brussels
14 Rue Montoyer
B-1000 Brussels
tel: + 32 2 213 30 50/52
fax: + 32 2 213 30 51
Email: s.motard@unep.be

Hamburg, Germany
As a contribution for WED, the United World Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will launch on its web site a 7 minutes video-clip. The orchestra will play the 2nd mouvement "Jeux de Vagues" of Claude Debussy's "La mer" synchronized with images focusing on "Seas and Oceans".

For more information, please contact:
Rüdiger Schramm,
Executive Producer
The United World Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Email: producer@artist-network.org
URL: http://www.unyouthorchestra.org/start.htm

Patras, Greece
On 5 June, WED 2004, Ms Roula Angelakis – Malakis, journalist, Global 500 Laureate 1990 of UNEP, with her environmental Group, will start a 6 months’ journalistic campaign for the “World’s seas and oceans”. People must know all about the crisis the marine environment of our planet is facing and the urgent need to act now – all sectors of society - all over the world - to save it.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Roula Angelakis – Malakis
Journalist
Global 500 Laureate 1990 of UNEP
50 Heroon Polytechniou Ave.
264 41 Patras, Greece
Tel. 1 : +30 2610 426 988
Tel. 2 : +30 2610 431 057
Email: nikism@tee.gr

Norway
The children’s environmental organisation Inky’s Ecodetectives, now a partner of UNEP, will either directly or indirectly participate in the following activities to highlight WED 2004:

- In the two riverbank towns of Hamar and Gjøvik, separated by Norway’s larges lake Mjøsa, the 5th of June will have joint opening activities, connecting the two towns in their quest to clean up their lake. At the same time, this is the starting point of an international Week, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most notably guests from both Israel and Palestine will attend, and clean water will be the focus.
- A WED newspaper supplement will be published on the 3June. The paper will also highlight the Millennium Development Goals.
- In the capital, Oslo, a Green Week will start on 5 June and a number of different activities for people of all ages will take place.
- In the city of Bergen, Inky’s Ecodetectives will name Bergen a Green Childrens’ City, and a variety show for schoolchildren will take place in the main town square on 4 June.
- In Trondheim, named a Green Children’s City on WED 2003, there will also be a Green Week leading up to 5 June.
- In the arctic town of Tromsø the 5th of June will be celebrated under the midnight sun with a carnival and a storytelling festival.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Andrew Kroglund
Director
Inky's Environmental Detectives
Nedre gate 8, 0551 Oslo, Norway
Phone: 00-47-22044630/00-47-95139725
Email: andrew@blekkulf.no
URL: www.blekkulf.no

Finland
To celebrate WED Lassila & Tikanoja has produced a 32-page recycling guide for Finnish consumers. It offers useful information about recycling waste in the home. The guide can be downloaded from the web at www.lassila-tikanoja.fi. Together with WWF, Lassila & Tikanoja has created a web quiz about environmental issues mainly about recycling. On the occasion of WED, Lassila & Tikanoja has also produced a song called Blues and greens.

Lassila & Tikanoja specializes in environmental management and property and plant maintenance all over Finland. Lassila & Tikanoja is the market leader in environmental product trade in Finland. The company has over 6,200 employees.

For more information, please contact:
Marika Kokkonen
Communication Manager, Lassila & Tikanoja
Email: marika.kokkonen@lassila-tikanoja.fi
URL: www.lassila-tikanoja.fi

Torino, Italy
The Province of Torino, according with the global commitment for energetic sustainability and with the aim to promote and stimulate one of the main issue of its environmental agenda - the use of renewable sources and the energy efficiency - invites its community to join the World Environment Day 2004 with initiatives that can supply a contribution to the reflection on the local topic of this year “From Turin to Kyoto: the way to the energy sustainability”.
The chosen theme for this year represents a consistent outcome of the efforts made by this Administration, proud of its Province Energetic Programme, a strategic document containing policies and actions to answer locally to the objectives indicated in the international agreements and aiming to supply citizens with useful information for a rationale use of energy.

See the detailed programme for more information about the hundreds of activities organised all around the territory of the Province of Torino.

For more information, please contact:
Enrico Camurati
Envision S.r.L.
Via Livorno, 60
10144 Torino - Italy
tel. +39-011-225760
Email: enrico@envision.it
URL: www.provincia.torino.it/ambiente/eventi/gma_04/index (for more information in Italian)

United Kingdom
British Nuclear Fuels (BNF) provides nuclear products and services in 16 countries and employs around 23,000 people world-wide. Being safe and environmentally responsible is at the heart of our business and this year's theme for World Environment Day is closely linked to our commitment to protect the sea by using best practicable means to progressively reduce radiaocitve discharges to the North-east Atlantic. This is one of the eight key environmental sustainability principles we use to guide us towards corporate sustainability.

BNF has, however, chosen to use world environment day to focus its attention on environmental responsibility more generally. With this in mind they have organised environmental displays and talks at its UK sites involving both internal and external speakers and exhibitors. These efforts will help promote BNF's environmental enhancement plans and cover a range of topics from resource usage to biodiversity.

A key component of all of these activities is to encourage employees to make a personal commitment to improve the environment at work and at home,and is linked to the Environment Agency's national 'Make a Pledge' campaign. Detailed programme.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Andrew Craze
Corporate EH&S Manager
Tel: +44 (0)1925 835088
Email: andrew.craze@bnfl.com
URL: www.bnf.com

Lausanne, Switzerland
The Summit Foundation will celebrate WED 2004 with a press conference at the Jardin botanique the Lausanne (Thursday 3 June 2004). Invitation for the press.

For more information:
Tel: 00.41.21.626.05.55.
Email: info@summit-foundation.org
URL: http://www.summit-foundation.org/new/f/index.php

Eco- schools
Eco-schools, an international programme for environmental education for sustainability, is promoting WED on its web site.

For more information:
URL: http://www.eco-schools.org

Brussels, Belgium
The World Customs Organization - WCO has created a special web page on the occasion of WED. For more information, please see the link below.

For more information:
URL: http://www.wcoomd.org/ie/en/en.html

Surrey, UK
Stocksigns, a Surrey-based sign company, which manufactures bespoke and standard signage intends to participate in World Environment Day by organising a number of activities for staff to take part in on Friday 11 June in order to increase environmental efforts within the company and also to raise money for a local charity, Wildlife Aid, which is involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured British wildlife.  A brief list of what is planned for the day includes:

- Encourage staff car sharing scheme
- Promotion of a new recycling scheme (to incorporate domestic recycling, plastic and aerosols)
- Construction of bird tables at the back of our factory
- Books and clothes swap
- Cake stall
- Staff donations to ‘dress down’

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Katie Rees
Stocksigns
43 Ormside Way,
Redhill, Surrey,
RH1 2LG
United Kingdom
Email: Krees@stocksigns.co.uk
URL: http://www.stocksigns.co.uk

London, UK
The Environment Agency has created a web site to encourage individuals and businesses to get involved in WED 2004, taking part in and setting up activities that both help to improve our quality of life and raise money to tackle environmental causes.

The web site provides all you need on how to get involved in environment day 2004 and do your bit, from organising a big event... to simply turning the tap off!

For more information, please contact:
K atie Ridge
Email: katie.ridge@environment-agency.gov.uk
URL: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Tashkent, Uzbekistan
The International ECOSAN fund of ecology and health in Tashkent, Uzbekistan is organizing, on 1 to 10 June 2004, a 10-day festival of sanitary, hygiene and ecological culture to commemorate World Environment Day.

ECOSAN's initiative is supported by the Government of Uzbekistan and is in line with its programme of large-scale activities, which will be held in the Republic. All sectors of society will participate in the events, including ECOSAN activists, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational establishments and the general public.

Activities will include thematic exhibitions, flower exhibit, painting competitions, presentations on ecology and health, as well as meetings and film showings on the environment at recreation camps and city and rural parks. A series of TV and radio programmes on environmental protection and sustainable development will also be organized. On 5 June, the popular morning radio programme Assalom, Uzbekiston! will devote its entire programme to the environment, while the Yoshlar radio station which broadcasts to the entire territory of Uzbekistan and neighboring countries will organize an ecological radio-marathon.

The educational institutions in the Republic will hold meetings for students and faculty on the theme Youth and the Environment with the participation of leading scientists and ecologists from the Tashkent ECOSAN club.

With the support of the Oliy Majlis committee on environment and nature protection and the Committee on the issues of science, education, culture and sport, a conference on legislation, culture and environment will be held. The roundtable discussion on the environment and sustainable development in the activities of political parties shall be organized jointly with public and political parties of the Republic. A seminar on the environment theme in the work of poets and writers shall be also organized in conjunction with the Union of writers of Uzbekistan.

One of the more memorable cultural events of the 10-day event will be the ecological festival organized by the International ECOSAN fund, the Khokimiyat of Tashkent city, the Ministry of culture and the Uztele-radio company on the summer stage of the Turkiston palace on 4 June. The programme includes seeing the exhibition devoted to The World Environment Day, the ceremony of rewarding the winners of the Days of ecology and health in the following nominations the best rayon (city), the best enterprise (organization) and the best well-organized mahalla and the concert of the artists of stage and masters of art of Uzbekistan. More than 5000 people are expected to take part in the festival: residents and guests of the capital, representatives of labor collectives, educational institutions, the diplomatic corps, international organizations and journalists.

The ecological subbotnik (voluntary free work), under the mottoTo mothers and children of the Aral Sea area, as well as the actions on cleaning and bringing to order cities, rayons, the territories of enterprises and organizations and living quarters shall be organized on 5 June 2004. As is the tradition, more than 6 million people shall participate in it: members of labor collectives shall work at their working quarters. The earnings from the subbotnik shall be sent to the social support of women and children of the Aral Sea zone where tens of millions of people are subject to the impact of the consequences of the ecological catastrophe the desiccation of the sea.

In the course of the festival numerous charitable actions will take place. One such initiatives will be sending the ECOSAN trains and trucks of health with the humanitarian cargo to the ecologically disastrous regions and the economically disadvantage.

During the days of the festival a control over the observance of ecological requirements to the sanitary condition of territories of cities and populated areas, country and city recreation camps for schoolchildren, waste sites, hospitals, children’s institutions, auto- and railway stations and airports, farmers’ markets, trading centers, particularly, selling consumers goods shall be carried out by taking specific measures for the removal of such problems.

For more information, please contact:
Zaytuna Fayzullaeva
Head of a sector of ECOSAN
International Fund of Ecology and Health "ECOSAN"
Shahrisabz street, 1
700000 Tashkent
Republic of Uzbekistan
Email: ecosan@uzpak.uz
URL: www.ecosan.uz

London, UK
Future Forests invites people to make a pledge to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and so help protect the climate by:
- purchasing a World Environment Day pack comprising a tree dedicated to the purchases plus a pack of organic wild flower seeds;
- linking to a page detailing what it is that Future Forests' linked businesses are doing.

To enable business to celebrate world environment day, Future Forests have created a package which includes:
- 100 trees dedicated in a beautiful forest in Scotland
- 100 tonnes CO2 saved through by helping villagers in Sri Lanka and India to swap fossil fuels for solar

For more information, please contact:
Bethan Riach
20 Flaxman Terrace
London, UK
Email:enquiries@futureforests.com
URL: www.futureforests.com

Ferrara, Italy
The Museo Storia Naturale in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy is organizing, on WED this year, a two-day event on the Adriatic Sea Coast to explain to the general public the functioning and the management problem of the seas by using examples from the sea closest to the region, namely Northern Adriatic Sea.

Furthermore two conferences will be held in the afternoon of 12 june 2004 about:
- "Monitoring and healthness of the Northern Adriatic Sea", Dr. Carla Rita Ferrari, Battello Oceanografico "Daphne" - ARPA Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- The Project "Scubadivers for the Enrvironment: results of the first two years of the project in the Mediterranean Sea", Prof. Marco Gottardo, Marine Science Group, University of Bologna, Italy.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Carla Corazza
Resp. Stazione di Ecologia, webmaster
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale
via De Pisis, 24
I-44100 Ferrara
Email: c.corazza@comune.fe.it, stazecol@comune.fe.it
URL: http://www.comune.fe.it/storianaturale (for more information in Italian)

London, United Kingdom
The Roche Nursery School in London will hold a recycling week at school beginning the week of 7 June. This effort will involve both children and parents to encourage protection of the environment and what we can all do to help!

For more information, please contact:
Jacquie MacColl
Deputy Manager
The Roche Nursery School
11, Frogmore
London SW18 1HW
United Kingdom
Email:Abijam15@aol.com

Bilbao, Spain
For the third consecutive year, IHOBE - the public society of environmental management of the Basque Government Environmental Department - is to organize Basque Green Week (Aste Berdea) during 31 May to 6 June to coincide with World Environment Day. For the first time, since this event has been organized, more than 51 municipalities will participate in Basque Green week. More than 200 green activities have been proposed during Aste Berdea, including expositions, films, conferences, visits to factories, theaters, competitions (photos, flowers, painting..), ecological agriculture exhibits, and more. The programme is as follows:

May 31st.
Conference on The Management of Business: Sustainability in practice - in collaboration with the Basque Business Association for Sustainability (IZAITE). Expected number of people: 100

Workshops:
A - Environmental sustainability of consumption
B - Environmental good practices in the University
C - Environmental sustainability in buildings
D - Natura 2000 network in the Basque Country
E - New challenges in the soil management with the next Basque Soil Pollution Law
F - Environment and communication

June 1st.
Basque Government meeting in the Unesco Biosphere of Urdaibai about Sustainable Development. At this meeting all the basque ministers and the president will analyze the Basque Environmental Sustainability Report 2004 which assesses the overall progress of the objectives and goals of the Basque Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2002/2020.

Workshops:
G - The Strategic Environmental Impact of plans and programmes
H - The role of NGOs in sustainable development

June 2nd
Conference. Basque industry and Directive IPPC. Expected people: 250

June 3th
Conference. Local Agenda 21 in Basque municipalities. Expected people: 250

June 4th
Conference. Agenda 21 for schools. Education for sustainability. Expected people: 150
Conference. Ecodesign and Environmental product innovation. Expected people: 200

June 5th
Betizu Green Party. The first green party for a club of 50.000 children. We are working with environmental criteria for these kind of parties (use of public transport, use of recyclable materials, etc)

In addition, IHOBE is organising 3 environmental competitions (competitions are organized every two years):
1. Environmental photos (2 categories - one for children of up to 12 years and another for young people between the ages of 12 and 17)
2. Environmental education practices (2 categories of schools, children and youth)
3. Environmental good practices in the local development (2 categories for town halls and NGOs)

For more information, please contact:
Alexander Boto
Zuzendariorde Teknikoa / Subdirector Técnico
Gobierno Vasco - Departamento de Ordenación del Territorio y Medio Ambiente
Ibañez de Bilbao, 28-8ª 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia
Email: alexander.boto@ihobe.net
URL:http://www.ihobe.net

Zurich, Switzerland
On the occasion of World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June 2004, Zurich - the largest City and economic center of Switzerland - goes public for its environment: cleaner air, less noise, «lighter» traffic and transport, saving energy, protection of city-animals, tree and plant life, better hygiene in food handling in restaurants ? are some of the issues, which will be addressed.

At several city squares and other central spots, information stalls, inter-active events and measuring equipment will bring these issues closer to the approximately. 1 million inhabitants of the Greater Zurich Area. Excursions to bat-colonies and other highlights of Zurich's astonishingly rich «city wildlife» will be a highlight for families.

These first WED events in Zurich are the result of a real inter-departemental and inter-disciplinary project. Five of the City's government departments and about a dozen environment-specialist teams are involved. The entire project is directed and coordinated by Umwelt-und Gesundheitsschutz (Environment and Health Protection) Zürich UGZ.

The aims of the Project are: to demonstrate in attractive ways, how important elements of the City's notoriously high quality of living are upheld and developed, and to show the inhabitants the active part they can and should take!

The weekend of WED 2004 will be environmentally-speaking a very active one in Switzerland's main City, both on the streets and in the media!

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Vera Baré
Project manager at Umwelt- und Gesundheitsschutz Zürich
Phone ++41 1 216 43 70
Email: vera.bare@gud.stzh.ch
URL: www.umwelttage.ch (for further information in german).

Derby, United Kingdom
The Diocese of Derby is organising a major Appeal for Tools this summer as part of a campaign to encourage recycling and reuse to provide practical help to people in Africa and Derbyshire. The Appeal is being launched on World Environment Day - Saturday, 5 June 2004 - at The Silk Mill, Derby's Museum of Industry and History, which is a UN World Heritage Site. The Appeal is part of the Diocese's programme to translate the principles of sustainable development into thoughtful action. The Diocese is working with the Derby City Council, the Derbyshire County Council and Rolls Royce on this endeavour.

For more information, please contact:
Louise Doble
C/o Council for Social Responsibility
Diocese of Derby
Church House
Full Street
Derby DE1 3DR
United Kingdom
Email: doble@fish.co.uk
URL: http://www.derby.anglican.org

Milton Keynes, England
The Lions Club of Bletchley, Milton Keynes, England has been involved in the planning and coordinating of the Bletchley Carnival for several years. This year's carnival will coincide with World Environment Day.

The Club plans to commemorate WED by distributing prizes to young people who demonstrate knowledge about the Earth's seas and oceans, as well as posters and other promotional materials that can educate participants about the environment in general. In addition, designated club members will take responsibility for encouraging interested persons to volunteer with a local environment group and will provide contact information.

For more information, please contact:
Vendrice Garvin
2 Lucas Place
Woughton on the Green
Milton Keynes MK6 3BZ
England, United Kingdom
Email: Vendrice@aol.com

Crewe, Cheshire, England
Climb, the National Information and Advice Centre for Metabolic Diseases in the U.K is celebrating World Environment Day by holding a poster competition for all the young people involved with its Young Persons Service.  Climb works to empower young people and encourage their involvement in a magazine called ‘Cool News’ and a pen friend scheme.  Its mission is ‘to ensure the best possible quality of life for children, young people and families affected by metabolic disease and alleviate their suffering with the ultimate aim of prevention and cure’. 

For more information, please contact:
Philippa Meehan
Children and Young Adults Adviser
England, United Kingdom
Email: philippa@climb.org.uk

Geneva, Switzerland
On 4 June 2004, a roundtable to be held in the International Environment House (IEH), Geneva. The subject will be linked to the WED theme seas and oceans. Mr. Phillip Roch, the Director of the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape is expected to participate, as well as other participants.

The inauguration of the Annex to the IEH, which has recently been expanded to host international environmental NGOs. The inauguration of this building will take place immediately after the roundtable and is expected to attract some local attention.

A workshop on Sustainable Consumption will be organised during the Universal Forum of Cultures - Barcelona 2004, either in June or September. The Forum, with its process of multi-agent dialogue and purpose of contributing to the articulation of a culture based on peace, diversity and sustainability, offers a unique opportunity for a debate on sustainable consumption. UNEP will work with partners to raise awareness sustainable consumption and support the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

For more information, please contact:
Michael Williams
Information Officer
Regional Office for Europe
Geneva
Switzerland
Email: michael.williams@unep.ch

Cambridge, United Kingdom
This year, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) is holding a schools and sixth form painting competition using the WED theme. Prizes include 3 bicicycles, which will be awarded by the Mayor of Cambridge
and and the Director of WCMC, Mark Collins - followed by an exhibition at the Cambridge Guildhall - then mobile exhibitions at different venues.

For more information, please contact:
Will Rogowski
Head of Marketing & Communications
United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
219 Huntingdon Road
Cambridge CB3 0DL
United Kingdom
Email: will.rogowski@unep-wcmc.org
URL: www.unep-wcmc.org

London, United Kingdom
London Sustainability Weeks 2004 is being held from 5 -19 June to coincide with World Environment Day. The aim of this event is to encourage community groups, bsuinesses, local authorities and government to work together to create a cleaner, greener and healthier London.

Friday 4 June - 10-2.30 pm - Museum of London
London Sustainability Weeks 2004 Launch followed by Sustainable London? The Role of Communities. A Community-based London Response to ‘Taking it On – Developing A UK Sustainable Development Strategy Together’. Invitation.

Saturday 5 June - Waterloo Millenium Green
London Green Map Launch - Presenting the London of the Future. Invitation

For more information, please contact:
Tim Webb.
5 Blackstock Rd
Finsbury Park
London N4 2JF
Email: info@london21.org
URL: londonsustainabilityweeks.org

Tewkesbury, United Kingdom
The Cheltenham Centre for Change in Tewkesbury, United Kingdom is organizing an art competition for children between the ages of 8 and 16 to produce images and /or sculptures from scrap materials based on the WED seas and oceans theme.

For more information, please contact:
Andy Hayes
Centre Organiser
Tewkesbury
United Kingdom
T el. 01242 570111
Cheltenham Centre for Change Ltd.
Email: ccc@honeyend.com

United Kingdom
Every year Epson Telford Limited has an "Environment Month", which now falls in June to coincide with World Environment Day (WED). During the month, Epson uses various competitions and promotions to reinforce the Company's commitment to the environment and to raise the profile of local, regional and global environmental issues. Environment Month allows Epson to "up the ante" with its employees and the local community. This year
(2004), plans are already in place to hold a poetry competition with local schools using the WED slogan Wanted! - Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive? The prize-winning school will receive an Epson Printer and the winning
pupils (1st, 2nd and 3rd) will also receive prizes. In-house, an Environmental Quiz is planned (also with a prize) - using the WED theme.

Epson Telford Limited already holds ISO 14001, is a Zero Emission site and has an on-going and substantial Environmental Policy.

For more information, please contact:
Fiona Hunter
Environmental Co-Ordinator
Tel : +44 (0)1952 284399
Email: fiona.hunter@epson-telford-ltd.co.uk
URL: www.epson.com

Brussels, Belgium
This year, Green Week, organized by the European Commission (EC) and the Director-General (DG) of the Environment, will take place from 1to 4 June 2004.

The EC and the DG have announced the launch of the new "Clean Marine Award", which will be presented for the first time on 1June as part of Green Week. This award is particularly timely as it is very much in keeping with this year WED's theme - seas and oceans. The Commission plans to celebrate these ceremonies on a biannual basis, through high profile events. These awards were announced in the European Commission's Communication on an European Union strategy to reduce atmospheric emissions from seagoing ships. Their objective is to give positive publicity for environmentally responsible shipping, specifically low-emission initiatives, and to disseminate best practice.  The awards have no pecuniary value.

For more information, please contact:
Paula REY-GARCÍA
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
Liaison Office with the EU
14 rue Montoyer, B-1000 Brussels
T 02 213 30 53 (Direct)- F 02 213 30 51
Email: p.rey@unep.be

Aldermaston, England
The Atomic Weapons Establishmen - AWE holds an Environment Week Exhibition in June each year coinciding with World Environment Day. The exhibition is an excellent opportunity to raise staff awareness of environmental issues and what they themselves can do to help preserve and protect the environment at work and at home. We are a large company, over 3,600 staff, and our sites cover hundreds of acres involving a wide range of operations. Like any other large industrial complex we are aware that our operations can have the potential to harm the
environment and we therefore take every action to ensure that this does not happen.

Outside organisations such as local Wildlife Trusts and Local Authorities are invited to exhibit alongside our own people. We also hold a competition with environmentally friendly prizes. Freebies made from recycled products such as rulers made from vending cups and mouse mats from recycled tyres are a popular attraction. We also hold Flower, Birds and Heritage Walks as our sites are not just industrial but have a diverse range of natural habitats including ponds and woods.

For more information, please contact:
Pauline.Dennett
AWE plc
Aldermaston
Reading - Berks - RG7 4PR
England
Email: Pauline.Dennett@awe.co.uk

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LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Tierramérica - Children have the word
Children from Latin America share their visions as the planet celebrates World Environment Day, June 5. In this Tierramérica exclusive, they respond to the question: What is the environmental problem that most worries you, and how should it be solved?
[English] [Spanish]

For more information, please contact:
Rody Onate Zuniga
Information Officer
Regional Office for Latin America and the Carribean
MEXICO CITY
Email: ronate@rolac.unep.mx
URL: http://www.tierramerica.net/2004/0605/index.shtml

Oaxaca, Mexico
As part of the celebration of the 2004 World Environment Day, Planeta announces the winner of the annual Colibri Ecotourism Achievement Award and the winner of the first Colibri Lifetime Achievement Award.

The winner of the fourth annual 2004 Colibri Achievement Award is Jorge Chávez de la Peña, who developed Mexico's first university-level ecotourism program.

The winner of the first Colibri Lifetime Achievement Award is Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, who coined the word ecotourism in 1983 and has been an indefatigable proponent of environmentally sound tourism. More about the winners!

For more information, please contact:
Ron Mader
Planeta. com
Email:http://www.planeta.com/contact/index.html
URL: http://www.planeta.com

Mexico City, Mexico
To celebrate World Environment Day, the Regional Office for Latin America is organizing several activities:

- a Festival of Art and the Environment: Invitation - Brochure and programme
- a Week of Cinema and Environment at the Cineteca Nacional, showing the movies from the Goias Festival (Brazil): Invitation - Programme

For more information, please contact:
Rody Onate Zuniga
Information Officer
or
Kakuko Nagatani
Regional Office for Latin America and the Carribean
MEXICO CITY
Email: ronate@rolac.unep.mx
Email: kakuko.nagatani@pnuma.og

Port of Spain, Trinidad
The Second Caribbean Environment Forum and Exhibition (CEF-2) will be convened in Port of Spain, Trinidad, from May 31st to June 4th. The CEF 2 is coordinated by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), in close collaboration with the Government of Trinidad & Tobago and with support from:

- Environmental Management Authority

- Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC)

- Ministry of Public Utilities and Environment, Trinidad & Tobago

- Ministry of Health, Trinidad & Tobago

- Solid Waste Management Company of Trinidad & Tobago

- Tourism & Industrial Development Corporation of Trinidad & Tobago (TIDCO)

- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

- Water & Sewerage Authority of Trinidad & Tobago

The First Forum and Exhibition which was held in Castries, Saint Lucia in 2002 attracted over 300 persons from within the region and internationally, and the organizers expect that the participants to the CEF-2 exceeding that of its predecessor. Under the theme of “Energising Caribbean Sustainability”, the CEF-2 will serve as a platform to focus attention on key environmental concerns of the region internationally as well as provide a forum for preparing the region for the next international meeting on SIDS (Small Island Developing States) in Mauritius.UNEP is supporting the CEF-2 financially and technically. Ricardo Sánchez Sosa, the Director of UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean will address plenary of the Forum as a key note speaker on 1 June 2004.

UNEP will organize two information sessions on the Ozone/Montreal Protocol (1 June 2004) and on environmental assessment and monitoring (3 June 2004) at the forum as well as take part in information sessions on HEMA (Health and Environment Ministers of the Americas). An exhibition booth of UNEP at the Forum will display materials focusing on GEO/Integrated Environmental Assessment, the Ozone Action Programme, GEF IWCAM Project, the White Water To Blue Water Initiative, the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) and it s partnerships with the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Project (UNF-USAID), and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA).

For more information, please contact:
Rody Onate Zuniga
Information Officer
or
Kakuko Nagatani
Regional Office for Latin America and the Carribean
MEXICO CITY
Email: ronate@rolac.unep.mx
Email: kakuko.nagatani@pnuma.og

Guyana
Banks DIH Limited of Guyana has been participating in local WED walks for the past few years, however, this year they decided to go a step further and design an initiative that would enhance local awareness about environmental plights.

Thus, they have developed and sponsored a Banks DIH Limited "Secondary Schools World Environment Day Banner Competition". This Competition is based on the Wanted! Seas and Oceans- Dead or Alive? theme.

The overarching aim of this competition is to generate greater interest about environmental issues among Secondary School students. Seventeen schools have entered the Competition and the Company has further supported their interest by providing each school with a piece of banner material, paint brushes and two cans of paint, there are no limitions on the variety of paint colours that can be used.

In addition to the banner, each school must provide a written description of their banner and its relevance to the theme.

The first to third prizes to be awarded are book certificates. These will benefit the entire school (not just the students that are involved in the actual banner design).

The winning banner will be used as Banks DIH's banner in the WED "green walk", which is to be held on 30 May, 2004. All banners are to be submitted to the Company by 21 May 2004 for judging in that same week.

For more information, please contact:
Astrid Foo
Environmental Coordinator
Banks DIH Limited
Guyana
Email:banksenvco@yahoo.com

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
This year, using the theme Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive, the John Gray Recyclers plan to commemorate World Environment Day in Grand Cayman by introducing plastic recycling into all the schools in the Cayman Islands. The project entitled Plastic Six Pack Holder Recycling reflects the importance the organization attaches to the concept "ReUse" and "Recycle" because, to a great extent, marine debris consists of plastic items and six pack holders can strangle marine life such as turtles and birds. These holders will then be taken to Bodden Beverages in Grand Cayman for "ReUse" and any left over will be sent to the Hi-Cone Plant in the United States for Recycling. John Gray Recyclers will also be doing a Clean Up of Barkers National Park - the first National Park in the Cayman Islands. In addition, they will undertake various media activities to promote the day.

For more information, please contact:
Christine Whitehead
Email: johngrayrecyclers@hotmail.com
URL: www.johngrayrecyclers.org/year11_jiminy_cricket_project
Main web site: www.johngrayrecyclers.org

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
WED 2004 is also the birth day of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA)in Trinidad and Tobago. This year marks the ninth Anniversary of the EMA.

EMA will undertake the following activities: Education of the entire country via: Media briefings, newspaper articles, travelling MAll Exhibitions, highlighting those companies that engage in sound environmental practices.

The EMA will also host a very prestigious National Awards function titled "The Green Leaf Awards" in the following categories; Media,individual, community group, audio/visual work, NGOs, special awards. A Steering Committee, comprising members from several government and private organisations, will review all the nominations for validity and select winners in the respective categories.

For more information, please contact:
Kirk Jean-Baptiste
Communications Officer
Environmental Management Authority
# 8 Elizabeth Street - St. Clair
Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Email: kjbaptiste@ema.co.tt

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NORTH AMERICA

Canada
For more than thirty years, Canadian Environment Week (30 May - 5 June 2004) has been held the first week of June each year to coincide with World Environment Day.

Environment week and the commuter challenge. The Commuter Challenge is a friendly competition between Canadian communities to encourage as many people as possible to use sustainable and active modes of transportation. All you have to do is make a commitment to walk, jog, cycle, in-line skate, take the bus, carpool or telework during Environment Week (May 30 - June 5, 2004), then let us know the mode you used and the distance you traveled. Take the commuter challenge!

For more information:
URL: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

Philadelphia, USA
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC) in Philadelphia, USA underscored its participation in the United Nations’ World Environment Day by launching the Center’s new website.

As we observe World Environment Day, all of us must consider the impact of our actions on the environment, particularly on the watersheds, said Ed Grusheski, general manager of public affairs for the Philadelphia Water Dept.

Our website will help to do that, so we are pleased to launch our site on this special occasion, he added.

The website has all the information anyone might need before visiting the Center. Besides covering the basics of location, hours of operation and driving directions, the new website offers, among many other things:

- Compelling evidence on the importance of watersheds
- A brief history of the Fairmount Water Works
- Colorful photos of the FWWIC’s exhibits
- Concise descriptions of other cultural institutions within walking distance
- Directions on how to volunteer at or donate to the Interpretive Center
- Links to websites for the Philadelphia Water Department, FWWIC partners and other water-related organizations

Although this year’s WED focuses on the challenges confronting Earth’s seas and oceans, water pollution provides a common concern for the U.N. and the Interpretive Center. The FWWIC’s main theme of “Water in Our World” specifically addresses pollution caused by watershed runoff into rivers that, if not stopped, ultimately affects water quality in our seas and oceans.

Admission to the Interpretive Center is free and the facility is 100 % ADA accessible. FWWIC is a project of the Philadelphia Water Department.

For more information, please contact:
Ed Grusheski
Email: wdowen@comcast.net
URL:www.fairmountwaterworks.org

New York City, USA
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project is organizing a free documentary film screening and panel discussion concerning the
role of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in preventing the extinctions of endangered leatherback sea turtles and marine mammals. The new documentaries" Last Voyage of the Leatherback?" (East Coast
premier) and "Deadly Sounds in the Silent World" will be screened. A panel discussion including NYU professor Howard S. Schiffman about the role of UNCLOS in leatherback sea turtle and marine mammal conservation will follow
the screenings. The event addresses the theme of the World Environment Day: "Wanted Seas and Oceans Dead or Alive" on the eve of the UNCLOS meeting June 7-11. Media advisory.

For more information, please contact:
Robert Ovetz, PhD
Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator
Sea Turtle Restoration Project
Phone: 415-488-0370 x106
USA
Email: robert@seaturtles.org
or
Marsha Green, PhD
Ocean Mammal Institute
Emai : mlgreen@pacifier.com
URL: www.seaturtles.org / www.savetheleatherback.com

UNEP Regional Office for North America, Washington, DC
The City of San Francisco will organize an event or set of events on 5 June to launch its preparations for hosting WED in 2005. One of the events will be the showing of the movie Ocean Wonderland at the local SONY IMAX/3d film theatre in downtown San Francisco.

Building on last year’s successful WED event, RONA is trying again to promote internet-based water testing among US and non-US high schools by facilitating Earn Take a Dip: The Water in Our Lives and the GEI Project. Results of these tests will be available on 5 June and RONA is exploring possibilities for publishing the results on Capitol Hill or at another venue.

The Regional Office of North America, together with the Clean Beaches Council will celebrate World Environment Day on Saturday, June 5th at Sand Key Park at Clearwater Beach, Florida. As part of the celebration, UNEP will present an award of appreciation to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area for its commitment to the global movement to promote clean and healthy beach environments around the world. “The Clean Beaches Council is pleased to join with the United Nations to mark World Environment Day,” stated Walter McLeod, President of the Clean Beaches Council. “This day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the role that the world’s beaches play in our lives – as a place of recreation (beaches are the top visitor destination in the U.S.), maritime commerce, jobs and also as important habitat for all kinds of beach wildlife.”

For more information, please contact:
John Peter Oosterhoff
UNEP Regional Office for North America
Washington, DC
USA
Email: jpo@rona.unep.org
URL: http://www.rona.unep.org

Providence, Rhode Island, USA
The Ocean Project (TOP) is a relatively new and unprecedented public awareness initiative among more than 520 aquariums, zoos, science, technology and natural history museums, as well as conservation organizations and government agencies. Together, we hope to significantly increase the success of ocean conservation by creating in people a lasting, measurable, top-of-mind awareness of the importance, value and sensitivity of the oceans. TOP is currently developing a new ocean awareness, education and action-oriented campaign, complete with various personal action tools and products that help conservation become a way of life to create an ocean ethic in society.

TOP plans to launch this new initiative in June, around World Environment Day and World Ocean Day on 8 June. Through activities with its many partners, TOP hopes to develop a strong public constituency for aquatic and ocean conservation and a lasting movement of environmentally-aware, concerned and active citizens that can bring about significant policy change for conservation and help establish a sustainable society.

For more information, please contact:
Bill Mott
Director
The Ocean Project
Providence, Rhode Island 02906
USA
Email: bmott@seaweb.org
URL: www.TheOceanProject.org

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WEST ASIA

Brunei Darussalam (west Borneo)
The Panaga Natural History Society will be organising a beach cleanup walk to commemorate this years World environment day.
During our walk from the panaga club to E1 we will be collecting stray garbage and discuss the things that can be spotted on the beach. From sea snakes to turtles from casuarina trees to crabs. There are a surprising variety of things to be seen on our beaches.
We are planning to start at the Panaga club beach shelter 1600h on Saturday the 5th of June and slowly walk to E1 drop off our garbage bags and enjoy the sunset from "ed's" E1 beach platform.

For more information, please contact:
Hans Dols
Chariman Panaga Natural History Society
Brunei Darussalam (west Borneo)
Email: Hans.Dols@Shell.com

Doha, Qatar
The Kainat Foundation in Doha, Qatar - a non-governmental organisation working with young people to bring environmental awareness, is planning a number of activities to commemorate World Environment Day 2004. They include:

- a mock world parliament on the environment;
- a poster and photography competition;
- an essay writing competition;
- a tree planting exercise; and
- a clean up campaign

For more information, please contact:
Shakil Ahmed Kakvi
Chairman
Kainat foundation
P.BOX -35132
DOHA-QATAR
Email: kainat.international@mail.com
URL: www.kainatfoundation.org


United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The Emirates Diving Association (EDA) is recruiting members and volunteers to gather on 4 June at Martini Rock located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Over the WED weekend, they will officially launch two mooring buoys created by EDA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dibba. These buoys have been created to minimize anchor damage in the area. Mohammad Bitar from EDA will travel to the East coast on the 31 May-1 June to meet with officials and place the foundations of the buoys. They will officially be ready for use on 4 June when the surface buoys will be inflated to the surface. I

If you would like to participate in this EDA event: either diving/snorkeling please contact: projects@emiratesdiving.com. Please note spaces are restricted due to the number of boats available. If you are unable to come this weekend please understand the EDA regards every day of the year as World Environment Day and we should strive to create awareness about the marine environment on a daily basis. EDA will be holding other activities thoughout the year so please do not be disappointed if you fail to come this weekend.

In addition to the mooring buoys, EDA will also try to attain the attention of local authorities explaining the importance of this dive site and present a proposal, recently written by EDA to the Ruler of Sharjah asking him to declare Martini Rock as an official protected area: a marine reserve.

EDA is also undertaking a WED sticker campaign, uniting the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and EDA’s logos, promoting the 5th of June; make sure that you have yours.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi & EDA Staff
Emirates Diving Association
Email: edadiver@emirates.net.ae

Bethlehem, Palestine
The Environmental Education Center (EEC), previously called Children for the Protection of Nature in Palestine (CPNP) have celebrated World Environment Day (WED) every year since 1992. This year EEC will celebrate this occasion together with the Bethlehem Peace Center (BPC) - an organization with which they have been cooperating since the year 2000. They also cooperate with many organizations such as the Environmental Quality Authority, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

EEC and BPC will have an open day on 5 June 2004 with lots of environmental and recreational activities. Their target group will be 50 students from 12 different schools ( private, public and ANRWA) from the Bethlehem area. These students were chosen from the environmental clubs EEC and BPC established earlier in these schools. The programme will begin with a presentation on the LCD about Biodiversity. This will be followed by group discussions on local and global environmental problems. The students will then visit the center in Beit Jala which consists of:

• Botanical garden: with bird conservation area, outdoor classroom, a pond for birds, Mediterranean trees, biblical trees, endangered trees, wild flowers, shrubs, birds and animals that will become extinct without adequate care and protection.
• Environmental exhibition: it shows several ideas with pictures about environmental issues and problems. Some of the ideas the white stork talk to the visitors through panels about the problems that it faces during migration and how this bird is important to the balance of nature, so we have to protect it with all means.
• Natural History Museum: with a collection of over 2500 specimens of fossils, rocks and fauna. The preserved animals include all types of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, that could be found in Palestine, even the extinct one, like the brown fish owl. By the way, some of these specimens have been preserved in the museum since 1902.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Simon Awad
Executive Director of EEC
Tel/Fax: 00972-2-2765574
Email: gungeogaza@yahoo.com
URL: www.cpnpeecp.org

Gaza Strip, Palestine
The General Union of Non-Governmental Environmental organizations GUN-GEO will implement the WED programme in the Wadi Gaza Development Project of UNDP, to commemorate WED in Palestine. They are organizing a seminar for coastal zone management in effort to highlight the importance of the seas and how we can conserve them for future generations. In addition, research on the diversity of Mediterranean Sea in the Gaza Strip is being undertaken.

For more information, please contact:
Deir El-Balah
PO Box 9
Gaza Strip, Palestine
Telefax: +972 8 2531 968
Mobile : +972 59 768003
Email: gungeogaza@yahoo.com

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