Newsletter GREENWAY NU 15 The address of Greenway office: P.O. Box 163 814 99 Bratislava Slovakia tel/fax: 827-213 Results of six month RECYCLING EXPERIMENT in Trencin, Slovakia The City of Trencin, Slovakia, experimented with a recycling effort in the period from February 15 to August 15, 1993. The experiment was organized by District organization of Slovak Union of Nature and Landscape protectors (SZOPK) in Trencin, Trencin Ecological Foundation '92, local organization of SZOPK in the town and Skaut's organization. These NGOs motivated inhabitants - organizing meetings with them, discussing the issue problems with teachers in the schools, with pupils and parents, they made advertisement for the project in newspapers, Slovak radio and television. The NGOs published a lot of propagational materials for children and adults. In the experiment process it was clear that the families are quite willing to be active in such practical activities. But the private businessmen were not prepared to take part in the experiment and they have had the feeling it is not their task to collect and separate waste. The experiment targeted 3 different areas that included 1.500 households or 3.729 participants. Through the use of propagational materials the citizens were well prepared and informed. This was proven by the citizens themselves who surpassed the estimated criteria of success, set at 20%, by 7,7 % Each citizen produced 89,5 kilograms of waste from which 3,5 kg of paper, 3,5 kg of glass, 0,4 kg of plastic and 16,5 kg of biowaste were palced into recycling containers. Thus, 23,9 kg of waste which doesn't reach the landfill. The containers were strategically located throughout the targeted areas. On loan from the German firm SSI Schafer were 417 of 120 l containers and 312 of 240 l containers. 115 larger containers were purchased from Reflex, a Slovak producer. The Austrian firm Brantner provided a collection truck and MUT Stockerey a compressor/separator. There were additional benefits that resulted from this experiment. In terms of being more financially effective the glass and paper could have been taken straight to the recycler, instead of through a State collection agency. However, the State collection agency does wrap and store the waste for recycling, saving us from paying for transportation and a 500-600 SK ($ 15-19) fee per ton of material. Quantitative analysis of waste per citizen allows the City to better estimate future needs for landfills. Also, they will be able to plan composting of biowaste and estimate future recycling success. Results also proved that transporting recyclable materials was more expensive than non-recyclable waste, but only because the experimental area was so small. Once the number of areas with containers are increased throughout the city, expenses should drop because of improved efficiency and effectiveness. The experiment was followed up by a two day seminar on the 4-5 November 1993. The seminar was based on practical experiences with classification and recycling of waste in Slovak Republic. It was necessary to exchange experiences and plan future steps in waste management and legislation. Some notes from this seminar: 1. The Program of Waste Management was develop as a conceptual document aimed at the whole Slovak Republic. It deals with solutions of waste management in Slovakia, focusing on three basic principles: minimizing waste, separation and recycling. 2. The separation of collected municipal waste is one of the basic systems of minimalization. 3. In contemporary systems the purchase of garbage does not correspond with separation. 4. Enterpreneurial activities in these fields meet large difficulties due to high taxes, lack of credit and price constraints. 5. Economic solutions to separating municipal waste are not fully evaluated because they do not take into consideration the deposit of wastes into landfills and it's covering. Participants of the seminar proposed: 1. Legislation should consistently react to problems of waste management. Especially: a) imported foreign packaging techniques and waste regarded as recyclable; b) domestic and foreign production of goods packed in non- recyclable packages; c) with respect to changing societal conditions. amendments should be made to waste laws. 2. The State should create better conditions for recycling municipal waste. They should promote recycling and production of equipment for separation through the use of taxes, duties, prices, credit policies and also environmental education. And participant's suggestions were: The State must be more concerned in these affairs, otherwise the system of separating and recycling waste in the Slovak Republic will never reach it's maximum potential. That is why the participant's address, with the utmost urgency, the competent Representatives of the Ministries, the Government of the SR and the National Council of the SR. For more information contact: Dagmar Liskova and John Scott Gillanders SZOPK/TEN '92 Hviezdoslavova l 911 01 Trencin Tel: +42.831.35763 ***** NGO AFFECTS TRAFFIC CHANGE IN HUNGARY In the past few months of a series of policy measures have been taken by the Hungarian Government and Parliament for the purpose of cutting down the use of motorized vehicles in Hungary. The Clean Action Group , an NGO located in Budaors and working for an evironment-friendly transport policy in Hungary, has played a significant role in each of the policy changes. Some car owners will no longer be allowed to use their vehicles while others will be required to pay higher taxes in order to use their automobiles or trucks. The number of people in Hungary suffering from asthma and lung cancer rose 10 an 3 fold respectively between the years 1975 and 1990. At the same time the number of automobiles in the country rose from 500,000 to 2,000.000. These are the policy measures taken recently by the Hungarian Government and Parliament: 1. As of January 1992 two-stroke engine cars can no longer be used for taxi and transportation services. This includes Trabants and Wartburgs representing one third of the cars used in Hungary. 2. In December 1991 the fees for transit were raised by the Hungarian Parliament ten times. This action was challenged by Greek truck and lorry drivers, and the Hungarian government under strong pressure from the EC, issued a large number of free passes. However, these allowances are arranged annually; the basic fee will remain at its new level. 3. A "car weight tax" was introduced in December 1991. 4. In December 1991 the Government accepted a decree about yearly environmental control of motor vehicles. 5. In March 1992 the Hungarian Parliament established an environmental fuel tax. For every litre of gasoline or diesel oil sold, Ft 0,50 will be designated for a special environmental fund. Given the annual fuel consumption of 2 billion litres, the Fund will have a yearly income of Ft 1 billion ($12,5 million). The proceeds are designated for reduction of pollution from transport and for public environmental education campaigns. While the tax is low, it represents a significant breakthrough: this is the first time an environmental tax has been levied in Hungary. 6. Since 1990 road maintenance has not been a part of the annual budget. Instead, the Government adopted maintenance contribution and included it in the price of fuels. The CLEAN AIR ACTION GROUP is a network of over 30 environmental NGOs whose mission is to improve the environment in Hungary by working within established systems, creating new system when needed, and by involving those who are affected most - the people. In November 1991 the Clean Air Action Group created the Hungarian Traffic Club. This new organization already enjoys wide support in Hungary and is an active member of the European Federation for Transport and Environment. For more information contact: Levego Munkacsoport (Clean Air Action Group) Pf. 102 H-2041 Budaors Hungary Tel: +36.1.111 7855, 132 3432, 140 6097, 173 3454 Fax:+36.1.132 3432, 173 3454, 140 6097 ***** ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Academia Istropolitana, an Institute of Advanced Studies in Bratislava, Slovakia o f f e r s the possibility to s t u d y in the Environmental Planning and Management Program for undergraduated students from Slovakia and other Central and Eastern European countries. The academic year 1992-1993 was the first year of studies in this program, which is designed to meet the need for postgraduate education in the environmental field, with an emphasis on management, planning, and interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The program intergrates the knowledge and approaches of Western and Central European universities and institutions which have environmental backgrounds. The goals of this program are: 1. to provide highly qualified environmental planners and managers with an interdisciplinary view of environmental problems, 2. to raise the educational level of people in decision-making roles, 3. to provide a deep theoretical background for solving environmental problems in the immediate future, 4. and to improve the standards of local teachers by providing them and their students with the opportunity to develop contacts with partner centres. English is the program language. This creates an optimal base for international cooperation through contacts with European and overseas experts and also allows the participation of foreign students. The one year program cycle is divided into three parts - trimesters, consisting of lectures, discussion classes, practical work, seminars, excursions and short field trips. The trimesters end with seminar weeks during which students present their project work. Included in the study program are short day-long field trips and week long excursion. The final trimester ends with final examinations and project defense. Every year the program curriculum will be improved and restructured according to the observations and suggestions of our partners, staff, and students, thereby insuring achievement of the highest international standards. R e q u i r e m e n t s for acceptance into the program are completition of a four or five year university degree program in a related filed and a good knowledge of the English language. Scholarships are available for students. The level of support is determined by the quality of the student's work throughout the year. Further information and application forms may be obtained from: RNDr. Martina Vagacova Academia Istropolitana Hanulova 5/B 840 01 Bratislava SLOVAKIA tel.: +42 7.785 671 or +42 7.785 069 fax : +42 7. 785 341 ***** GERMAN GROUPS SEEK CEE INTERNS Recently four German environmental organizations expressed an interest in having a trainee from Central and Eastern Europe working in their office. Their specific programs are outlined below and those who are interested in should apply to the respective organizations. Please include a curriculum vitae. European Natural Heritage Fund (Euronature) They offer: practical training Qualification expected: experience in environmental NGO work, experience with computers (MS DOS), some knowledge of English, basic knowledge of and interest in the European Community. Contact person: Lutz Ribbe Koblenzerstr. 9 53359 Rheinbach/bonn GERMANY tel.: + 49.2226 2045 fax : + 49.2226 17100 Stiftung Leben und Umwelt (Foundation Life and Environment) They offer: practical training for at least 3 months, food and accomodation, eventually travel costs. Qualification expected: - education in the field of agriculture or environment, - knowledge of German and English, - experiences in ecological agriculture and/or climate protection, - experience in office work. Contact person: Jutta Borchert Ahornstr. 2 27798 Hude GERMANY tel.: + 49.4408.9287 30 fax : + 49.4408.9287 19 Environmental Law Network International They offer: practical training for 2-3 months and eventually small salary and reimbursement of travel costs. Qualification expected: - legal education (students also accepted), - basic knowledge of German, good knowledge of English, - and interest in environmental law and work with NGOs. Contact person: Betty Gebers Bunsenstr. 14 64293 Darmstadt GERMANY tel.: + 49.6151.819115 Kirchliches Foundation is looking for a trainee. Contact address: Friedrichstr. 1a 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg GERMANY Tel.: + 49.3491 2601 (From: REC Information Bulletin, Vol.3, Nr.3) ***** CONFERENCES, EXHIBITIONS ETHICS - ECUMENY - ECOLOGY The historical town Nitra in South-Western Slovakia hosted the Conference on Ethics-Ecumeny-Ecology during December 1992. Organizers were the Slovak National Cultural Centre with Slovak Environmental Society in cooperation with Permanent Bishops'Conference in Slovakia and Ecumenical Council of Churches, besides a number of enthusiasts. Almost 150 participants-specialists in philosophy, theology, ecology, education and members of some NGOs have discussed the scale of environmental problems and searched for their solution and prevention of eco-crisis. Everybody has realized, the attractive, detached residence, Planet Earth is on the verge of collapse untill mankind will be ready to accept and introduce the essential changes in life style, order of values, needs, relationships, awareness, survival strategy ... There is an outstanding chance for all churches and religions. They can - and are able undoubtedly to play a deserving role in activation of conscience and responsibility, cultivation of emotions, ethics and environmentally sound respect to nature and wildlife. The following opinions, tasks and topics of this conference were addressed as a declaration and appeal to all churches, religions and related citizens' groups, NGOs: All subjects that are active in education, training and influential in forming of the public opinion by dissemination of informations are asked to rise their activity towards children and youth in particular and to grow awareness in relation to living Earth. Families, as fundamental social units, are expected to be inspirative sources of positive attitudes with displayed love, respect and sympathy to life - either human, or anyone existing in nature. Churches and religious groups are encouraged to particpate actively in environmental poliy, decision making, education, prevention and solution of problems. The ethic aspects have to be dominant in that attitudes and activities. All churches are invited to celebrate the "Sunday for the Environment" that is suitable closely before, or after the World Day of the Environment (June 5, each year). Bishops, priests and any persons in service would express the "Thanksgiving" for the God's care about the living creation, which the mankind is an integrated component in. Churches have to aware the public that any frivolous act damaging, or destroying the environment with nature and the wildlife are to ve judged as sins against the will of God as a creator of the World and Universe. That sins have also to belong under confession practices. On the other hand, churches are expected to encourage the public and each citizen to feel involved into cooperation with God at maintaining, preserving and sustainable use of all the creation and life supporting systems, resources, processes and values. Everybody has to realize, the living creation and the world are God's masterpiece to be admired, respected. Everybody has to prevent, or exclude any act causing it troubles, stress, disasters, death and extinction. All that ideas, tasks and goals are to be introduced into practices on national, regional and local level by means of permanent cooperation of all interested subjects and persons mutually as well as by means of "the New Alliance" and "The World Council of Churches". Participants in Nitra have decided, the conference on that topics will become traditional with a term in late autumn every second (pair) year. So, the next one will be hold in November 1994 with a title "Participation of Mankind in Preservation and Management of the Universe". In the period between conference term there is promised that The Ecumenical Council and The Coordination Committee will be open and active for communication and arranging occasional workshops on actual topics. ???????? bude medzinarodna,v akom stadiu je jej priprava ???? For more information contact: RNDr. Jan Kleinert Slovak Agency of the Environment Lazovna 10 974 01 Banska Bystrica SLOVAKIA tel: +42.88.754289 ***** ENERGY EFFICIENCY MANAGEMENT AND ITS WIDESPREAD DISSEMINATIONIN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Energy, is organising the Symposium on Energy Efficiency Management and its Widespread Dissemination in Central and Eastern Europe which will be held in Kiev (Ukraine), 18-22 April 1994. From provisional agenda: 1. Adoption of the agenda 2. Election of officers 3. Opening session 4. Working Session I - International and national legislation, standards, and labelling systems on energy efficiency 5. Working Session II - Economic Mechanism and Financial Means for Energy Demand Management 6. Working Session III - Institutional and Commercial aspects of Energy Efficiency Management 7. Working Session IV - Information Support of Energy Efficiency Management, energy expertise and audits 8. Working Session V - Round table discussion on Energy Efficiency Management Widespread Dissemination in Central and Eastern Europe. 9. Other Business 10.Adoption of the report and Closing session. The working languages of the Symposium will be English, French and Russian (simultaneous translation will be provided). Deadline for the registration of participants is 20 March 1994 For more information and the registration form contact: Mr. Francois Greaume UNECE/ Energy Efficiency 2000 54-56 Rue de Montbrillant Ch-1202 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND tel.: +41 22.734 33 00 fax : +41 22.734 32 85 ***** WORKSHOP ON RENEWABLE SORCES OF ENERGY May 3-6, 1994, Almeria, Spain. Topics of the workshop are: renewable nergy - findings of the United Nations Solar Energy Group for Environment and development including: prospects for advanced wind, solar photovaltic and solar thermal systems for electricity generation, solar hybrid systems, the economics of renewable energies, the role of small and medium sized enterprises in promoting the use of renewable energies, solar power action programme for CEE economies in transition, experience gained with institutional structures and incentives for renewable sources in the CEE region. For more information contact: Mrs. Josefine Andorfer UNECE/ Energy Division Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND fax: +41.22. 917 0038 or 917 0036 ***** ECOFINEX 1995 It will be an exhibition on "NATURE AND WILDLIFE ONCURRENCIES OF THE WORLD" Determination: To give a publicity to the EUROPEAN NATURE CONSERVATION YEAR 1995, it's message and related programmes, activities. To support strategies such as Global Biodiversity, Caring for the Earth, Agenda 21, and related charters, declarations, conventions. Purpose: Presentation and display of collected samples (originals, specimens, enlarged copies) of recent valid coins and banknotes bearing intentions taken from nature. That are pictures of plants and animals of any species and in any position, beauties of the landscape and activities such as planting trees, harvesting, fishing, riding on horse or camel ... Particular attention will be paid to samples of "occasional, memorial, jubilee and conservation" categories of coins. Aims: to present the attention paid to nature and ecology by states and national banks on their currencies, - to emphasize the role of applied design by means of intentions relevant to the title, - to grow the public interest and awareness in realtion to nature and environmental issues, - to encourage communication, familiarity, partnership among nations of the World, - to publish an illustrated catalogue with review of scale, topics, frequency, quality of intentions, - to honour the most spectacular items. Opening day: The Earth Day, April 22, 1995 Location: Slovak National Museum, Bratislava, spring 1995. Alternatively in adopted train cars to be moving along railways in Europe for lonmger time. Organizers: Ministry of the Environment, Slovak Republic Slovak Agency of the Environment Slovak Union of Nature and Landscape Protectors Potential co-organizers (and sponzors): national and international agencies, NGOs, banks, private firms Contact person: RNDr. Jan Kleinert Slovak Agency of the Environment Lazovna 10, 974 01 Banska Bystrica SLOVAKIA tel:+42.88.754269 ***** IGU REGIONAL CONFERENCE 1994 " ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CENTRAL EUROPE: PROBLEMS OF TRANSITION " August 22-26, 1994, Prague, Czech Republic The 1994 IGU Regional Conference will be hosted by Charles University of Prague (the oldest University in central Europe) and organized in cooperation with other Central European countries. The conference aims at covering a very broad spectrum of both scientific and applied issues, focusing on the Central European region. The program of the conference is structured into six streams, related to the major contemporary issues: * The emerging "New Central Europe" * Environment and Landscape * The Geographic Information system, Cartographic Systems and Remote Sensing * The Domain of Physical Geography * The Domain of Human and Economic Geography * Geographic and Environmental Education. Streams are further divided into a number of thematic sessions, main building elements of the scientific programme. Four plenary sessions will introduce the conference main topics. The scientific programme will be complemented by a series of accompanying activities, including pre- and pos-conference excursions, exhibitions, round table discussions etc., which foster an excahnge of views between politicians, officials, business and non-governmental representatives on one hand and conference participants on the other hand. English and French will be the conference official languages. The estimated registration fee is 280 USD. A system of grants will encourage the particpation of students and seniors, as well as potential delegates from developing countries and "countries in transition". The coordinates of the conference secretariat are: IGU RC 1994 Albertov 6 128 43 Praha 2 Czech Republic tel: +42.2.203 608 (205 878, 296 025) fax: +42.2.205 878 (296 025) E-mail: KUC@CSEARN.BITNET ***** ECO AGRO TOURISM IN CENTRAL EUROPE The rural environment is threatened in particular by techniques of industrialized agriculture. Many areas in Central Europe are of interest for the Western tourists and since the political change tourism is booming. Large negative impacts of tourism on the environment are contributed mainly to mass tourism. Therefore new initiatives to develop sustainable forms of tourism are an urgent necessity. There is an interest to develop forms of rural tourism serving both regional development and environmental protection. Respect for and focus on the environment can make tourism both profitable and long-lasting. Sustainable tourism, per definition small-scale, makes not only a positive contribution to the prosperity of the national tourist industry but also of the region and directly the local population itself. Protection of biodiversial landscape and national parks can be better managed through the financial input obtained through such tourism. Soon the idea was born to link up practical care for the environment with ecological agriculture and sustainable tourism. For that reason the European Center for Eco Agro Tourism (ECEAT) was initiated by EYFA (European Youth Forest Action) and founded by representatives from the environmental movement, the organic agriculture movement and the eco-tourism sector. ECEAT started with National Coordinator Teams (NCTs) in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary the pilot project in January 1993. The aim of this project is * to make tourists acquainted with a stay on ecological farms, * to give farmers the experience of having tourists around and * for the NCTs to gather valuable information on how to improve the concept. The NCTs were asked to list 15 farms per country which are able to receive tourists in the summer. In the year 1994 and beyond the activities in these three countries should be broadened and deepened. ECEAT also wants to e x t e n d the Eco Agro Tourism project to n e w c o u n t r i e s . On the priority list are Slovakia, the Baltic countries and Slovenia. According to its statutes, ECEAT does not have to limit its activities to Central and Eastern Europe and is as well interested in new countries for the development of tourism on eco farms as organizations who are able to promote the farms among the general public. For more information contact: Naut Kusters coordinator ECEAT Postbox 10899 1001 EW, Amsterdam The NETHERLANDS Tel/Fax: + 31.20.6160 408 *****