GREENWAY newsletter NU-13 The address of GREENWAY office: P.O.Box 163 814 99 Bratislava Slovakia tel/fax: 42.7.827213 This issue of Greenway newsletter was prepared with the help of Central and Eastern Working Group for the Enhancement of Biodiversity members. I have to express my best thanks to all who contributed for the issue. The second part of newsletter was prepared by Greenway secretariat. Looking for your cooperation on next issues, Yours, Elena Vartikova. C o n t e n t I. BIODIVERSITY (compiled by Philip Weller and Dan Swartz) 1. CEEWEB .......................................... 3 2. International Agreements ........................ 6 3. NGO Nature Conservation Strategy ................ 8 4. Conserving Europe's Natural Heritage ........... 10 5. The GEF and Biodiversity Convention ............ 11 6. Upcoming U.S.Ratification ...................... 12 7. Seminar on Conservation of Biodiversity in Slovakia .................... 12 8. Publications ................................... 13 II. INFORMATION, INVITATION, NEWS 1. Celebration of the First Jubilee of Milieukontakt Oost-Europa .................. 15 2. Global Environmental Facility ................. 16 3. Green League - Environmental Calendar ......... 19 4. REC Continues Junior Fellowship Program ....... 21 5. Symposium-Healthy Work, Healthy Environment ........................... 22 6. Travel Fund for Albania........................ 24 I. BIODIVERSITY 1. CENTRAL AND EASTERN WORKING GROUP FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY - CEEWEB What is CEEWEB ? Throughout Central and Eastern Europe there exists a rich heritage of biodiversity important on global scale and essential to the regions effective redevelopment and rejuvination. The biodiversity of the region is linked and interdependent, and cannot be effectively protected by the people of one country alone - effective regional efforts that recognize and promote the biogeographic boundaries and not the political boundaries are needed. The Central and Eastern European Working Group for Enhancing Biodiversity meets this challenge. Composed of environmental organizations from throughout CEE, CEEWEB is a network of groups working together to promote protection and enhancement of the valuable biological heritage of Central and Eastern Europe. Why is CEEWEB Needed ? As the 150 environmental NGOs attending the Vienna Conference on the Ecological Reconstruction of Central and Eastern Europe concluded: "Despite significant ecological damage in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), a substantial portion of the biological and natural heritage has been reatined. For example, many plant and animal species endangered or extirpated in the West still occur in large numbers or in undisturbed habitats in CEE." As the economic and political transformation in CEE unfolds these areas of biological richness are increasingly threatened by intensive agriculture, forestry and other economic development including tourism, resource exploitation and infrastructure construction (roads, power lines etc.). CEEWEB, a network of environmental organizations throughout CEE, has been formed to combat these trends and to ensure that the rich biological heritage of the region is protected and will provide the basis for ecological reconstruction and sustainable development strategies in CEE and throughout Europe. What Does CEEWEB Do ? During the first year of activities, CEEWEB member groups produced national assessments of biodiversity protection efforts by NGOs and governments and developed mechanisms for improved communication and cooperation among environmental NGOs to achieve biodiversity protection. CEEWEB promotes biodiversity protection within CEE through public education activities, researching and advocating for regional, national and local policies and programs that protect biodiversity, and undertakes skill training among its members to be more effective advocates on behalf of regional biodiversity. In particular CEEWEB activities are geared to the following goals: a) Develop and promote educational materials and activities that encourage biodiversity protection in CEE. b) Participate in existing international, national and local governmental forums to promote biodiversity protection. c) Undertake activities at the regional, national and local level that improve biodiversity protection. d) Provide a forum for the exchange of information on biodiversity protection in CEE and a forum for the development of coordinated activities among NGOs to promote protection. Who participates in CEEWEB ? CEEWEB is open to all CEE organizations that are interested in furthering the goals of biodiversity protection in CEE. In addition to the active involvement of environmental NGOs and experts in CEE, CEEWEB has received and welcomes support and cooperation with organizations from western Europe. Founding and participating organizations are: Albania - Association of Biologists, P.P.N.E.A., Society for Protection of Birds and Mammals Austria - Global 2000 Bulgaria - Wilderness Fund, Green Balkans Movement Croatia - Green Action Zagreb, Biosfera, Europe Conservation Croatia Czech Republic - Czech Association of Nature Conservation (Veronica) Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia - Working Group on Biodiversity and Nature Protection Hungary - Hungarian Society of Nature Conservationists, Ecological Institute for Sustainable Development Latvia - Coalition for a Clean Baltic Poland - Polish Society of Wildlife Friends (Pro Nature) Romania - The Ecological Youth of Romania, Rhododendron Slovakia - Slovak Union of Nature and Landscape Protectors (SZOPK) Slovenia - Natural History Society of Slovenia How do you contact and participate in CEEWEB ? CEEWEB welcomes the interest, involvement and support of all organizations and individuals committed to the protection and sustainable development of the biological heritage of Central and Eastern Europe. Contact address of the CEEWEB secretariat is: CEEWEB C/o Ecological Institute for Sustainable Development Kossuth u. 13 3525 Miskolc HUNGARY Tel/Fax: + 36.46.352010 For information on how you can be involved in CEEWEB activities within your country you can also contact the participating organization(s) from your country. ***** 2. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS and BIODIVERSITY in CEE: The Environment for Europe and (Rio) Biodiversity Convention The issue of biodiversity (protection of living resources) has been an important theme in international discussions in recent times. These international discussions have implications for Central and Eastern Europe and for the work of NGOs hoping to protect biodiversity in CEE. In particular it is important for us to know what commitments our governments are making in these international forums and what the commitments other lands have made. These international forums provide an important background against which our own work is undertaken and can provide important opportunities for us to advance our own goals. What follows is a short summary of the main points out of two of the most important international meetings dealing with questions of biodiversity protection. The Biodiversity Convention As part of the Earth Summit in Rio (Brazil) in the summer of 1992 over 150 countries signed the convention on Biological Diversity which is designed to protect the Earth's biodiversity and ensure sustainable development of biological resources. Many countries from Central and Eastern Europe signed the Convention. Information from the United Nations Environment Programme at the end of 1992 identified the following countries in CEE as having signed the Convention: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldava, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. In order to enter into force the Convention required that thirteen countries ratify the convention - this occurred on September 30, 1993. The Convention states that each country shall as far as possible: a) Establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity; b) Develop, where necessary, guidelines for the selection, establishment and management of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity; c) Regulate or manage biological resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or outside protected areas, with a wiew to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use. The Convention is an international agreement that can be utilized by NGOs to encourage governments to improve biodiversity protection - especially for those countries that have signed the Convention. A valuable guide to the Convention has been produced by IUCN and information on how to obtain a copy can be gotten from the CEE WEB secretariat. Environment for Europe When the Environment Ministers of Europe met in Luzern last April they expressed clearly the importance of the challenge to protection of biodiversity in Central and Eastern Europe. The Environmental Action Plan for Central and Eastern Europe stated: Biodiversity in CEE countries is richer than in Western Europe The growing trend toward decentralization, land privatization, and Western-style agricultural policies in Central and Eastern Europe creates formidable challenges for biodiversity protection, especially in the face of intense economic pressure to exploit natural resources beyond carrying capacity at a time when human and finacial resources and legislative means are largely missing. Prior to the Environment Minister's meeting the Council of Europe prepared two papers. The first was titled, Nature Conservation in Europe: An Overall Strategy on a Continental Scale - Some Important Aspects (Full document you can read in the Greenway Newsletter Nr.12). The second was written for the Council of Europe by IUCN and was entitled, Notes on Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Sectoral Policy. Using these two papers as the basis, the Ministers Meeting in the Ministerial Declaration stated: 12. We welcome the iniciative for a European Year of Nature Conservation in 1995, and we endorse the report by the Concil of Europe on "Nature Conservation in Europe: An Overall Strategy on a Continental Scale: Some Important Aspects" as an important basis for discussion. The Ministerial Declaration also stated: 13. The Council of Europe, in cooperation with IUCN, UNEP, the EC Commission and interested governments and organisations, will pursue activities related to protected areas, promoting the development of methods for the sustainable use of natural resources, model legislation and pilot projects to promote sustainable tourism, including education and training. 14. We call, within the context of the Environmental Action Plan, for more detailed analysis and proposals for the conservation and the sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity, especially in the form of site based model projects and institutional strenghtening leading to practical action on the ground. The next Environment Ministers of Europe Meeting in Sofia, 1995, will likely place a greater emphasis on biodiversity protection than was the case in Luzern. It will be the work of NGOs to see that this process is used effectively to improve the programs and activities in CEE aimed at protection of biodiversity. ***** CEEWEB is promoting development of national NGO biodiversity strategies. One of them was developed in Albania and could be used as a model study for other CEE countries. 3. The first national project for enhancement of biodiversity in Albania: NGO NATURE CONSERVATION STRATEGY As of a 1966 declaration by the Council of Ministers , Albania has six national parks encompassing 8.000 hectares, or 0,8% of the forested areas of Albania. Some of these lands are being used by the military, although theoretically, the national parks are protected from human expolitation. The 24 hunting reserves are classified as Type A: hunting is allowed, but grazing, and agriculture are strictly prohibited. Along with 200 protected natural monuments, Type B reserves are also in evidence which permit fishing, but regulate hunting activities. Governmental nature protection at the national level is supervised by the Committee for Environmental Protection and Preservation (CEPP), within the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection. Of the 8 members of Committee, only one, and this person is not qualified to deal with the topic, is responsible for the nature protection issues. In 1994, regional environmental agencies will be established, and by recommendation of the World bank, an independent Ministry of Environment will be created in 1995. The General Forestry Directorate, within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, is the sole agency responsible for protecting and exploiting the country's forest resources. In conjuction with the CEPP, the Forestry Directorate has established a working group to classify protected areas along IUCN guidelines, aiming to increase the nation's protected areas to 5% by the end of 1993. Untill now, Albania has never had any nature conservation legislation. However, in early 1993, both forestry law and general environmental law were enacted, and hunting law will be ready by the end of this year. Unfortunately, none of these laws bear any nature conservation criteria in mind. Therefore, the Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania and the Albanian Society for the Protection of Birds and Mammals, are undertaking a joint project to develop a National NGO Nature Conservation Strategy. The short-term strategy, over the next two years consists of collecting existing data on protected areas, field research for mapping bio-regions and classifying protected areas, inserting biodiversity and nature conservation considerations into relevant existing legislation, ratification of important international conventions such as Ramsar and the Rio Convention, adapting national legislation to bring it into line with EC nature protection directives, prioritizing activities and endagered areas, and preparing data for Red Books. A transboundary pilot project on Micro-Prespa Lake with a Macedonian NGO and the European Natural Heritage Fund aimed creating a management plan, environmental education, and eco- tourism concept has also been undertaken. The long-term strategy involves the publication of Red Books of plants, animals and habitats, establishment of a national ecological network, follow-up on the pilot project, and holding workshops on the classification of protected areas. For more information contact : Ferdinand Bego and Thomas Tennhardt, Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana, Albania (tel: +355.42.33367, fax: +355.42.27903). ***** Environment for Europe process and the Maastricht meeting in November 1993: Jaromir Sibl from Slovak Union of Nature and Landscape Protectors (SZOPK) attended a conference in Maastricht entitled 4. CONSERVING EUROPE'S NATURAL HERITAGE: TOWARDS A EUROPEAN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK Participants of the meeting resolved questions concerning the necessary characteristics of the European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy. The most important aspects of the Strategy would include a description of how Europe's ecosystem functions or fails to function in terms of causes and effects, guidelines for a multisectoral approach to biodiversity policy, ecological targets for immediate and long-term solutions, establishment of a European Ecological Network, priority lists for both national and European actions, and public awareness campaigns. It was decided that the European Ecological Network (EECONET) should be fully established and functional as soon as possible. Special emphasis must be paid to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe where high concentrations of biological values still exist, it being a shared responsibility to preserve these vital resources. Participants requested that the Council of Europe establish a coordinating mechanism to develop a European Biological and Landscape Protection Strategy, and a European Ecological network. The Council of Europe was also asked to present information on the progress towards a European Strategy at the Sophia European Environmental Ministers' Meeting in 1995. ***** Complete report from the meeting is avalaible at the CEEWEB secretariat. 5. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY AND BIODIVERSITY CONVENTION The GEF must complete its restructuring by the end of 1993, and evaluate itself before it seeks replenishment of funds in 1994. GEF remains the interim financial mechanism for implementing the Biodiversity Convention and meeting incremental costs. In a recent policy paper (see Publications), Conservation International has concluded that GEF might do more harm than good since several major donors have reduced their levels of support to biodiversity conservation since GEF is devoting so much of its resources to this area. Other criticism include a " poorly articulated mission", and unmet high expectations. GEF's mandate through Agenda 21 to meet global biodiversity conservation goals not in developing countries' "immediate national interest" contradicts the precept that biodiversity conservation provides national, local, and regional benefits in the immediate future. Further critiques include project cycles which are too long, limitations requiring disbursement of funds only through central governments, project sizes should be smaller and more manageble, use of consultants with no knowledge of required subjects, and a distribution of only $ 2.8 million out of $ 700 million working budget, while $ 20 million was spent on administrative costs. Conservation International also recommends that GEF should form a regular partnership with NGOs, since until now, cooperation with NGOs has been random, and most of the world's expertise in biodiversity matters lies within this community. Finally, GEF must be more open to public participation and the democratic process, including public meetings at proposed project sites. GEF, through its activities "should serve as a vehicle to bring about basic change in its Implementing Agencies, and, through its influence with donor and recipient nations, change the way the world looks at biodiversity." Basic information on Global Environmental Facility you will find in next pages of this issue. 6. UPCOMING U.S. RATIFICATION OF BIODIVERSITY CONVENTION The United States Senate is expected to receive the Rio Biodiversity Convention for ratification at any time. Simultaneously, the Clinton Administration will present an Interpretive Statement, directly contradicting Article 37 of the Convention which states that no reservations may be made. Among the items interpreted by the U.S. Government is the statement that Article 3, which establishes state sovereignity over environmental resources is a guiding principle rather than a binding international agreement. In addition, the U.S. would prefer the Global Environmental Facility to continue being responsible for the distribution of funds, thus leaving such activities in the hands of the donor nations. ***** 7. SEMINAR ON CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN SLOVAKIA Was held in April, 1993 by SZOPK. This seminar recommended several judicial guarantees for biodiversity conservation, and educational and scientific activities that must be undertaken. Furthermore, recommendations were made for the restructuring of State Nature Protection of Slovak Republic including financing options and methods to increase public participation. Proposals were also made for the protection of water biotopes. At the international level, seminar participants desired the insertion of biodiversity protection within the priorities of the PHARE program, and ratification of the Rio, Bonn and Bern Conventions. ***** 8. PUBLICATIONS 1. The Biodiversity Coalition produces a highly informative occasional newsletter which monitors world action on the Rio Biodiversity Convention. For copies write to: Alistair Graham, The Biodiversity Coalition, C-P.O.Cygnet 7112, Tasmania, Australia (tel: +61.02.951 745, fax: +61.02.951 964). 2. Conservation International has recently published: The GEF and Biodiversity: Lessons to Date and Recommendations for Future Action, by Russel A.Mittermeier and Ian A. Bowles. The policy paper deals with two main topics, setting global and regional priorities, and restructuring of the GEF. Various global priority setting approaches are discussed in brief, including "threatened hotspots", "megadiversity countries" and "key crop species in countries of origin". A particularly interesting section of the paper discusses regional priority setting workshops as a conservation tool, such as that which CEEWEB is working towards through its national reports and national NGO biodiversity strategies. These regional workshops have been funded by the GEF in the Amazon Basin and Papua New Guinea, and others might occur for areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and Central and West Africa. Copies are available from Legislative Programs, Conservation International, 1015 18th Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, USA (tel: +1.202.429 5660, fax: +1.202.887 0193). 3. A brochure explaining the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals is now available from the UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Mallwitzstrasse 1-3, D- 52177 Bonn, Germany (tel: +49.228.954 3501, fax: +49.228.954 3500). The Bonn Convention complements the Ramsar Convention (on wetlands), Convention on the International Trade of Endagered Species, and the work of the International Whaling Commission. A positive aspect of migratory species is that it "allows species to exploit resources periodically in areas that would otherwise be unsuitable for continuous use, " while on the other hand, "it means that animals are biologically dependent on the specific sites they find at the end of their journey and along the way." The Bonn Convention, or CMS, is an inter-governmental treaty aimed at conserving land, marine, and avian species along their entire migratory range. Although the CMS was concluded in 1979, it did not enter force until 1983, and now must be adapted to the new expectations enshrined in the Rio Biodiversity Convention of 1992. The CMS aims to conserve migratory species by adopting protective measures for those listed as endangered, concluding protection Agreements between nations which the same specific species migrate through, and participating in joint research efforts. The Bonn Convention also consists of two appendixes. Appendix I lists species which are in danger of exctinction throughout all, or a portion of their range. Range States are required to protect these animals from such practices as deliberate killing or harrassment. Appendix II lists migratory species which require or would benefit from the institution of international Agreements, and which may affect one region without necessarily affecting or requiring action in others. The purpose of each Agreement is to "restore the migratory species concerned to a favorable conservation status". Favorable conservation status is demonstrated when the species is self- sufficient and the population is viable and stable, the range of species wil not be reduced in the long-term, continuance of sufficient habitat, and distribution and population reach historic territory and levels. Some of the Agreements currently under development or concluded include the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea between Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands in 1990, The Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe in 1991, and the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas. ***** II. INFORMATION, INVITATION, NEWS .... 1. CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST JUBILEE OF MILIEUKONTAKT OOST-EUROPA Five years ago Milieukontakt Oost-Europa started its first activities in Central and Eastern Europe. The celebration took place on November 17, 1993. Speakers were invited from Eastern Europe and the Netherlands. John Hontelez, Chairman of Milieukontakt opened the celebration. Andrzej Kassenberg, Director of the Institute for sustainable Development in Warsaw spoke about "Environmental policy and the role of Western support in Central and Eastern Europe." Zsuzsa Foltanyi, former Milieukontakt consultant in Hungary, evaluated "The significance of Milieukontakt for NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe". Besides looking back at the last five years, Milieukontakt's plans for the future were presented. The Dutch Minister for the Environment, Hans Alders, was present to receive a memorial booklet. A lot of NGOs in CEE region are knowing the people from Miliekontakt which are ready to understand our situation, to come with support of our activities, to help organize trainings, workshops for our members or to invite our people to visit NGOs in Netherlands. Many, many thanks to all staff of Milieukontakt for their work and with our best wishes for future ! ***** With regard to a lot of requests from Greenway members to get some information about the Global Environmental Facility I compiled basic introduction for you. More about the GEF meetings, activities and involvement of NGOs you will find in one of next issues of Greenway Newsletter. E.V. 2. The GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is a pilot program for helping developing countries to contribute towards solving global environmental problems. The three-year experiment provides grants for investment project, technical assistance, and - to a lesser extent - research aimed at protecting the global environment and transfering environmentally sound technologies. The facility's work falls into four main areas: * to reduce global warming, * to protect international waters, * to preserve biological diversity, and * to prevent further depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. Responsibility for impelementing the GEF is shared between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP), and the World Bank. A Global Environment Facility was proposed by the French representative in September 1989 at a meeting of the Development Committee - a joint World Bank-IMF ministerial advisory group. In November 1990, the GEF was formally established by a group of developing and industrialized countries meeting in Paris to facilitate such projects which address issues of global concern in addition to the local objectives of particular activities. This mechanism is especially important for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe because these countries have a great potential to contribute to world wide efforts to reduce the man-made load on the global climate, biodiversity, hydrosphere or the stratospheric ozone layer. At the same time, the funds to accomplish the necessary tasks in relation with restructuring of their economy and solving their tremendous environmental problems in these countries are very scarce. Global Environmental Facility is a perspective mechanism in particular for the countries which are undergoing the process of restructuring and democratization and in search for an effective position to assist the implementation of the framework the Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity. The scientific and technical criteria for project selection were set out by an independent panel of scientific experts. National governments are the primary agents in identifying and selecting projects. All projects require government endorsement. Projects are then submitted either to the local UNDP representative (for technical assistance projects) or to the World Bank (for investment projects). The GEF is committed to working with NGOs whose specialized knowledge of both global and local issues is valuable in project identification, review, preparation, and implementation. A special 10 million small grants fund supports community-based activities by grassroots organizations and NGOs in developing contries. This GEF NGO Small-Grants Programme provides support for small-scale activities that address the problems of of global warming, lossof biodiversity, pollution of international waters or depletion of the ozone layer. The programme is currently offered in 33 countries. In each country, grants up to 50.000 USD are awarded by local selection committees to community groups, NGOs and NGO networks for relevant activities. In the pilot phase they have participate the countries from Africa (11), Arab States (3), Asia and Pacific (8), Latin America (9) and Europe (2 - only Turkey and Poland !). Useful addresses: GEF Technical Advisory Division UNDP One United Nations New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Tel.: +212.906 5044 Fax : +212.906 5365 GEF/UNEP Clearing House P.O.Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel.: +254.2.333 930 Fax.: +254.2.226 886 GEF Administrator Environment Department The World Bank Washington, DC 20433, U.S.A. Tel.: +202.473 1053 Fax : +202.477 0551 GEF NGO Small-Grants Programme UNDP DCl-2050/2052 One UN Plaza New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Tel.: +212.906 6076/5084 Fax : +212.906 544 13 ***** 3. GREEN LEAGUE INVITES YOU TO TAKE PART IN ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1995 ! Already in 1993 and 1994 Green Leaugue focused its calendar on the ecological situation in Central and Eastern Europe. With the calendar they want to raise a better awareness in their country for the environmental problems in the CEE countries. Herewith Green League is asking you for your help. "For the calendar 1995 we need articles about campaigns and activities you have planned for the next year . Also interesting will be reports about the cological situation in your region in general, the main environmental problems and landscapes, which are worth to be protected and if available, please, enclose some photos or slides for better understanding. It would be quite good if you added to your reports a short self-representation of your organization, some words about your aims, your main working fields. For all who don't know the Green League (Grune Liga) we will give you a short introduction of the organization: Green League is an environmental network in the east Germany. The organization was born during the political changes in the former GDR. The Green Leaugue engages in multitude projects ranging from the conservation of species and nature in general, the establishment of "Green Houses", environmental education, advice and law. Its members work out waste reduction strategies, user and nature friendly transport systems, projects for the use of renewable energies, for the conservation of the Baltic Sea as well as for the rehabilitation of the catchment area of the river Elbe. Since the establishment of the organization we worked together with environmental groups in Central and Eastern Europe and we will cooperate with the NGOs from this region also in the future. Please, support us with your contribution to the environmental calendar 1995 ! Please, don't forget your correct address ! Please, send your material untill the end of February 1994 !!! Waiting for your answer, with kind regards, Katja Stolp Annette Baumann Dorothea Bogelsack GRUNE LIGA / International work Friedrichstrasse 165 10117 Berlin GERMANY Phone/Fax: 030.2002 554 or GRUNE LIGA Dresden/calendar Friedrichstrasse 57 01067 Dresden GERMANY ***** 4. REC CONTINUES JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Following to the two succesful sessions of 1993, the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) continues its Junior Fellowship Program in 1994. In this Program five times six young activists from Central and Eastern European environmental NGOs are invited to come to REC Budapest for a one month period. Five periods are schedulded for 1994. The fellows receive basic training on environmental issues, project proposal writing, visits to other NGOs, and will work at REC on specific tasks or projects. Besides, they can work on activities which are relevant and interesting for their NGOs, using available resources. REC will cover all costs, including travelling. Young people (20 to 30 years of age), with good English communication skills from the countries that REC serves are invited to apply, i.e.: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania. New in the 1994 Program is that now also people from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Moldova and Russia can apply. The following five periods are schedulded for 1994: February 22 - March 23, May 3 - June 1, July 5 - August 3, September 6 - October 5, November 1 - November 30. Interested people should ask for a leaflet with more information and guidelines how to apply from Paul Kosterink at: Regional Environmental Center Miklos ter 1 H-1035 Budapest HUNGARY Tel.: +36 1.250 3401 Fax : +36 1.250 3403, or contact their REC Local Office or REC Local Coordinator. 5. HEALTHY WORK, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE For the past four years, the Environmental and Occupational Health Symposium for Central and Eastern Europe has provided a forum for individuals and organizations to share information and discuss strategies which have important implications for environmental and occupational health. The theme for this year's symposium will be "Healthy Work, Healthy Environment: Strategies for the future." The symposium is organized by Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia, JSI Center for Environmental Health Studies, Boston, USA and others. Will be held on June 13-18, 1994 in Nitra, Slovakia. The aims of the symposium are: * to exchange information and experiences related to improving environmental and occupational health services, education, research and policy; * To foster collaborative relationships between European and U.S. organizations and individuals working in environmental and occupational health. Past symposia have led to a number of collaborative efforts between scientists, policy-makers and NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe with their counterparts in the U.S. These activities include: joint research projects on lead and other toxic exposures, courses for Eastern Europeans in environmental and occupational health policy, occupational medicine and hazardous materials health and safety, the use of international expertise by environmental groups and trade unions, and other initiatives. The anticipated 120 partcipants from approximately 15 countries in Europe and North America will represent a wide spectrum of individuals concerned with environmental, occupational, and public health, including: scientists and educators, government policy- makers, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, business, and labor. Donor organizations will make it possible for individuals from Central and Eastern Europe to participate free of charge (by invitation only). The program will include sessions on: * Economic policies for sustainable development * Clean up and conversion industry * Women's issues related to occupational and environmental health * Communicating environmental and occupational health risks * The military legacy on environment and health * Citizen participation in environmental health programs. There will be workshops, informal role-plays, and field trips to local factories and other locations. For further information, contact as soon as possible: Mary Firestone JSI Center for Environmental Health Studies 210 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA Tel.: (617)482 9485 fax : (617)482 0617 Dr. Barry Levy Department of Community Medicine Tufts University School of Medicine 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA fax : (617)956 7417 Dr. Charles Levenstein Work Environment Department University of Massachusetts Lowell One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA Tel.: (508)934 3268 fax : (508)452 5711 6.TRAVEL FUND FOR ALBANIA From Milieukontakt Oost-Europa a Dutch liason foundation serving environmental groups in Central and East European countries and Netherlands, we received information that it was established a travel fund for Albania. This fund has been made possible thanks to a grant from the EC PHARE DEMOCRACY PROGRAM. The aim of the travel fund is to finance international travels that contribute to the effectivity of the Albanian environmental movement. The travel fund will be used for: - international travels of representatives of Albanian environmental NGOs, when no other reimbursement is available, - international travels for representatives of foreign environmental NGOs invited by Albanian NGOs for a visit to Albania, when no other reimbursement is available. Albanian and foreign NGO-members have to send a written request to Milieukontakt Oost- Europa when they want to use money from the travel fund. In the request it is made clear - what the purpose of the travel is, - why it is important to make the travel - who of the NGO is selected, - what the costs of the travel are. The fund is expired by August 1994. Please address your request to: Milieukontakt Oost-Europa Marga Verheije P.O.Box 18185 1001 ZB Amsterdam The Netherlands Fax: +31 20.639 13 79 E-Mail: mkontakt@gn.apc.org GREENWAY office : P.O. Box 163 814 99 Bratislava Slovakia tel/fax: +42.7.827213 If you send the information for our newsletter, please mark clearly " For Greenway NL "