I. GREENWAY...GREENWAY?...GREENWAY!... newsletter NU16 - Greenway office: P.O.Box 163 814 99 Bratislava Slovakia tel/fax: 42.7.827 213 1 1. PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ALBANIA - PPNEA ALBANIA Address: Lek Gjiknuri Universiteti i Tiranes Fakulteti Shkencave te Natyres Tirana ALBANIA tel: +355.42.27907 fax: +355.42.26961 Remark: There is no office ! It is the working place of the - chairman: Lek Gjiknuri Contact persons: Lek Gjiknuri/Mehmet Meta Year of establishment: 13 June 1991 Number of members: 400 Associated youth group PEARL: 70 members Number of local groups: 3 Type of organization: national Main aims: * Increase of public awareness on environmental problems in Albania, mainly the conservation, restoration and rational use of natural sources. * Contribution to practical solution of environmental problems, pressing the governmental bodies for political and economical solutions. * Promotion of environmental education of people, especially in all school levels. Main activities: * Campaigns, protest manifestations, petitions, etc. for the protection of environment and against damages of nature, e.g. three action days for UNCED '92 (forestry, traffic and energy); protest against damages of forestry and trees cutting; two protest manifestations against the destruction of Botanical Garden in Tirana; campaign "Send back to Germany banned pesticides!"; protest manifestation and petition against construction of touristic hotels in the territory of public park in Tirana; meeting for the Earth Day with discussion about problems of deforestration, soil erosion and biodiversity in Albania. * Scientific activities, eg. symposium on "Environment and Development in Albania"; study "The Environmental Situation in Albania and Strategies" (published in 1992, English); articles on specific environmental topics in Albanians newspapers TV and radio; Albanian-German seminar on some environmental problems in Albania in cooperation with Euronature; Third Balkan Environmental NGO Meeting in Tirana; Regional cooperation project on Prespa Lake (Albania, Macedonia, Greece); some other bilateral projects with NGOs from Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia; study visit to The Netherlands (8 activists of PPNEA) invited by Milieukontakt Oost-Europa. Plans for the future: - projects on environmental education, ecological problems of agricultural development, deforestration, - promotion of environmental information in massmedia, - to organize the public activities, mainly for "urgent environmental problems",etc. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: on exchange of information, materials, publications, and on concrete projects. (Source: Written information from Mehmet Meta) ***** 2. ALBANIAN ECOLOGICAL CLUB ALBANIA Address: Ali Eltari Rr. Todi Shkurti p.13 sh.4 Ap.32 Tirana ALBANIA tel: +355.42.26287 fax: +355.42.33491 Chairman: Ali Eltari Contact person: Naim Balla Year of establishment: 28 August 1992 Number of members: 217 Number of local groups: 24 Type of organization: national Main aims: * The aim of the organization is to work for the protection of the environment. * We try to raise the public awareness of the environmental issues and to perform concrete actions for this issue. Main activities: * Activities related to the pressure toward the government with the aim to set up the factories for recyclation of waste. * We have problems with the destruction of forests: the people are cutting the trees, exploiting forests till their liquidation, especially near the rural regions. It is understandable that together with them will disappear also a lot of species of animals and plants. We try to make aware the people with these issues and organize activities for revitalization of the forests. * Another activities are oriented towards the pollution of air, soil and water which is caused mainly by old machines in factories, heavy traffic, agriculture, etc. * There are lot of journalists from the press who are writing about environmental problems in Albania. Most of them are the members of Albanian Ecological Club. They are trying to educate the public on environmental issues. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - on specific projects concerned with mentioned issues, - publishing the magazine, and - on fundraising. (Source: Letter from Ali Eltari) ***** 3. GREEN ACTION ZAGREB CROATIA Address: Radnicka cesta 22, P.O.Box 876 41 000 Zagreb CROATIA tel/fax: +385.41.610 951 Chairman: Dubravka Bacun Contact person: Dubravka Bacun Year of establishment: 1990 Members: 700 Local groups: 0 Type of organization: national Main aims: * energy policy, * waste disposal, * environmental education, * drinking water pollution, * nature conservation, * ecological recovery, * building a green informational network. Main activities: * The energy group is promoting energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy through information dissemination, demonstration projects, elaborating alternative energy policies, influencing decision makers. * We are especially active on the field of environmental education : the main intention of project "Environmental education in Croatia "is to organize and realize institutional environmental education of citizens, pupils, managers and city government employees in several towns in Croatia. Other activities on environmental education inside and outside the schools and kindergardens, specific youth actions, * Organization and participation or round-table on municipal waste in Zagreb and of an exhibition on waste problems, * Succesful efforts in canceling the construction of a waste incineration plant in Zagreb, * Short study "Packaging waste situation in Croatia", * Project of Green Telephone started on September 1993; Green Telephone supply citizens of Zagreb with first and unique environmental information service. It is a source of information about specific environmental conflicts in everyday life of our city, * Collecting informations about environmental damages caused by the war. As a result of this investigations we produced a book "Horizons of Survival-Environmental Destruction Caused by the War 1991", * Organization of "Green Forum" - meeting of green groups and organizations from Croatia, * Organization of "Green Hours" in Zagreb and some other towns of Croatia, * Green Action is unregularly publishing a newsletter for the members, * Publishing of translation of a M. Lamb book: "Two Minutes Daily for a Greener Planet"; other translations, publications, leaflets. Plans for the future: - environmental education, - energy, - communications with citizens (e.g. Green Phone). Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - environmental education - energy issues. (Source: Leaflet and fax from Dubravka Bacun) ***** 4. CROATIAN GREEN ALLIANCE - CGA CROATIA Address: Dordiceva 7 41 000 Zagreb CROATIA tel/fax: +385.41.430 119 Chairman: Inge Perko-Separovic Contact person: Inge Perko-Separovic Year of establishment: 1990 Number of members: appr. 2000 Number of local groups: 32 Type of organisation: national, umbrella organization Main aims: The Croatian Green Alliance is an organization comprising local environmental groups, professional societies involved in environmental programmes, as well as individuals concerned with * the preservation and improvement of the natural environment and of natural resources and of the cultural heritage, * it strives to create a social and political climate favouring attitudes in support of environmentally sustainable development, * the assertion of the human rights to a healthy environment * and the spreading of awareness that the present generations bear the responsibility for the ecological security of future generations. The first year of establishment of CGA was marked by considerable difficulties, especially due to the fact that CGA comprised 3 local green parties, a circumstance that hampered the process of its consolidation. Finally, at its Annual Conference, held in March 1991, these organizations had to leave the membership of the Croatian Green Alliance. Main activities: In spite of the hardships caused by insufficient financial means (membership fees are the only source of revenue), during the period in question we were able to carry out the following actions: * Day of the Planet Earth, a letter was sent to the republic and local authorities, warning of the adverse situation in the water supply in Croatia and demanding improvements, * Bonfires of ecological awareness and conscience, held according to tradition on the day of St.John the Baptist, * Participation in the drafting of the Law on Environmental Protection, * Proposed amendments on Art.3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, declaring the protection of nature as one of fundamental values, * Introduction of the concept of sustainable development into the strategy of economic development of Croatia, * Demontrations against the Gulf war, * Earth Day - a concert for Croatian forests, * Environment Day - appeal for a reduction of use of motor vehicles, with children stopping motorists and offering each a flower and a request not to drive so much, * Publication of three newsletters, e.g. "Zelen List" (Green Letter), the third issue devoted exclusively to waste management, * Production of manual for primary school teachers on the subject of recycling of waste, * During the war (specially in autumn 1991) we were sending information about environment destruction in Croatia to different international environmental organizations, * Fight against the draft of Law on Waste Management that would permit import of hazardous waste in Croatia. Thanks to this activity, the law didn't pass until now, * Organization of Croatian participation in the project "Tree of Life" (3300 pledges were sent to Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit 1992), * Organization the project "Voice of Children" in Croatia, * Activities related to the CGA project "Waste Management in Croatia". Plans for the future: - mainly on energy issues and - waste management. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - on environmental education, - energy issues, - waste management. (Source: Fax from Inge Perko-Separovic) ***** 5. BRONTOSAURUS ASSOCIATION CZECH REPUBLIC Address: Koordinacni centrum Asociace Brontosaura Soukenicka 30 110 00 Praha 1 Czech Republic tel/fax: +42.2.231 3057 Chairman: Josef Marek Contact person: Josef Marek Year of establishment: November 1992 Number of members: 600 Number of local groups: 10 Type of organization: national Main aims: * Environmental education of young people through the work for nature conservation, * An independent monitoring of the environment, * Participation in practical solution of environmental problems, * Looking for new patterns of sustainable life. Main activities: * Summer camps for young people, * Weekend working camps for nature conservation and environmental education, especially for youth, * Meetings, panel discussions concerned wirh environmental problems, * Training courses for summer camps leaders, * Practical conservation work in national parks, nature reserves and on historical monuments, * Organization of educational trips to foreign countries. Plans for the future: - to increase a number of members in small communities, - to cover more regions with our activities, - to work more deeper on environmental education issues. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs on the issues: - environmental education of youth, - monitoring of the environment, - conservation work. (Source: Fax from Mr.Hruska) 6. RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER TAASEN ESTONIA Address: 23A Akadeemia tee EE-0026 Tallinn ESTONIA tel: +372.2.537 295 fax: +372.2.527 555 Chairman (director): Tonu Lausmaa Contact person: Tonu Lausmaa Year of establishment: 9 January 1992 Number of members: 100 Number of local groups: sub-organizations 3 Type of organization: national Main aims: * Uniting the efforts of persons and organizations interested in the development of renewable energy application. * To contribute to procuring, manufacturing, spreading and applying technologies, constructions, apparatus and know-how to bring down energy losses. * To promote renewable energy application. Establishing its goals TAASEN shall: * carry out the assessment of the renewable energy sources and their local application opportunities in the Republic of Estonia; * give individually tailored advisory help about the ways of applications, technologies and equipment of renewable energy both to individuals and organizations, employingfor this purpose specialists in these fields; * promote eefective and environmentally sound renewable energy technologies, creating access to financing of the investments in projects developing these technologies; * develop public awareness on renewable energy problems and propagate energy loss reduction; * launch research projects on developing renewable energy systems and the educational and training projects of these specialists; * evaluate the uplanned renewable energy systems and modes of bringing down energy losses; * gather and make public the data about the Estonian environmental air pollution and its ecological impact; * organize information campaigns and publishing activities in above mentioned fields. Main activities: * Wind energy programme - demonstration project for erecting an 150 kW wind turbine on the peninsular of Kootsaare of the island Hiiumaa, providing with the clean energy our Island Nature Reserve area. Supported by the Danish Eastern Europe Environmental Support Fund. * Another wind energy demonstration project will realized on the island of Prangli where will be erected wind turbine (150 kW), working parallel with a diesel engine. It is funded by the EC - JOULE programme, the Finish Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Danish Ministry of Industry. * The fans of wind energy in TAASEN are doing their utmost to promote the local production of small power wind turbines in Estonia. If everything goes as planned in the comming years Estonia will regain its place among the countries having old traditions on wind energy application. * In connection with energy conservation we have a project proposal on English-Estonian Cooperation on Energy Saving together with Ecological Development from UK to promote cost- effective energy saving technologies in retrofitting old stand alone single family houses in Estonia. Plans for the future: we are hoping to get an approval to a project for transferring low cost second-hand wind turbines for Estonia from Denmark, according of which 15 Danish wind turbines will be transfered to Estonia and set up at sites with favourable wind energy situation. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: TAASEN would like to receive updated data about energy situation and specially about the application of renewables in partner countries. (Source: Fax from Tonu Lausmaa) ***** 7. GRUNE LIGA (GREEN LEAGUE) GERMANY Address: Friedrichstrasse 165 10117 Berlin GERMANY tel/fax: +49.30.200 2554 Managing committee: Jorg Fuss, Klaus Schluter, Tomas Bruckmann Contact persons: Dorothea Bogelsack, Annette Baumann Year of establishment: February 1990 Number of members: 2 500 Number of local groups: 21 Type of organization: network, national, grassroot Main aims: * The Grune Liga is a network of the ecological movement in the Eastern part of Germany. It was born during the political changes in the former GDR when urban ecologists and environmentalists from 17 cities throughout the country tried to establish a non -party alliance to reveal the ecological deficits in the society. The Grune Liga declared the ecological "re-orientation" of the society to its objective. * Considerable importance is attached to the work on the local level because every region has its own problems. Our member- groups try to cooperate with local administrations and legislative institutions. Main activities: * The Grune Liga engages in a multitude of projects and campaigns - ranging from species conservations and nature in general, - the establishment of Environmental Centres and Green Houses, - - environmental education and advice, - ecological farming, - waste prevention strategies, - renewable energies, and others. * The members in Berlin try to keep the last orchidees on the outskirts of town or to take care for the wetlands in the north of Berlin with its breedings grounds. * An other project was developed to organize holiday tours and school expeditions for the Berlin kids to reach greater respect of our nature and better understanding of environmental problems among the children. * In Leipzig and Halle the member groups try to reorganize the urban society environmentaly friendly, for example, they work out plans for user and nature friendly transport systems and organize campaigns for greening of living houses and school- yards. * The Leipzig group engages in the tropical rainforest movement and the Taiga rescue network. * In Berlin and Rostock our own travel agencies try to organize environmental friendly trips for interested people. * The Grune Liga in Saxonia and Mecklenburg/Vorpommern started a lot of campaigns against the construction of motorways through endagered landscapes and reservates. The range of our activities is varing as our life. All examples of activities mentioned are only parts of the work of our member- groups. More information about the daily work of our organization give the local newspapers and the monthly newsletter of the Grune Liga. (Source: Fax from Annette Baumann and Dorothea Bogelsack) ***** 8. GEORGIA YOUTH ECO-MOVEMENT - GYEM GEORGIA Address: David Aghmashenebeli ave. 182 380012 Tbilisi GEORGIA tel: +7.8832.348 068 fax: +7.8832.351 674 Chairman: none - Council of coordinators Contact person: Zviad Mukbaniani Year of establishment: 27 February 1993 Number of members: 350 Number of local groups: 3 Type of organization: national Main aims: * to enhance the environmental awareness among the society especially the young generation, * to direct the energy of young people to the restoration of the eco-balance in nature. Main activities: * organization of the Cleaning Day (March 1993) of Tbilisi, practical participation and the propaganda work among the young people, * practical activity - planting the trees in surroundings of Tbilisi with several hundred young people and school children, * organization of Earth Day event - "Youth for the Environment" with concert, environmental films, eco-games, leaflets, painting of environmental topics and exhibition of school children works, * GYEM has developed wider contacts with the school children and their number as members of GYEM has been increased. As a result of the initiative of the youngest members of GYEM on the Day of Environment was the exhibition-competition "S.O.S. - Nature", * activities and meeting concerning the stopping the suffering of animals in Tbilisi Zoological Garden, * foundation of the TV program "Eco-Echo": the program will elicit the ecological problems existing in Georgia and the world, * active participation in the Forum of the NGOs of the Black Sea Countries, formed in Samsun, Turkey. Plans for the future: - environmental education of young people and school children, - Black Sea problems, - practical environmental activities. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs - on environmental education, - information exchange, - sharing experiences. (Source: Written information from Zviad Mukbaniani.) ***** 9. NATIONAL SOCIETY OF CONSERVATIONISTS HUNGARY Address: Kolto u. 21 1121 Budapest HUNGARY Chairman: Erzsebet Schmuck Contact person: Erzsebet Schmuck Year of establishment: 1989 Number of members: approx. 6 000 Number of local groups: 63 Type of organization: national Main aims: * Enhancement of the activity of own member-groups * Preparation, development and implementation of own projects * Involvement in the international NGO community * Participation in environmental policy formation. Main activities: * In an effort to promote personal contacts among own member- groups we hold regular, national meetings. At these large-scale annual events views and news can be exchanged directly. * Communication among the groups is further enhanced by our Headquarters' monthly newsletter. * A Scientific Advisory Board operates for the promotion of expert knowledge at the groups. * To improve the national nature conservation and environment protection movement, we coordinate a camp application system assuming all work related to raising and handling funds and further organisational tasks. * In partnership with World Wide Fund International yearly training courses are running for camp-leaders. * In line with basic ideas of the Earth Summit the NSC has developed and is operating a long term project package. Within the scope of this, we focus on bringing the "sustainable development" issue to the forefront of people's green thinking and hold joint conferences with national and international organizations alike. * With the aim of enhancing biodiversity in the Carpathian Basin, raising awareness and increasing pressure on politicians to preserve biological richness, the NSC in partnership with international and national institutes has launched its Bioregional Biodiversity project. * The NSC initiates and conduct campaigns to look into whether and how people are environmentally conscious and aware of decision making process. * The NSC, in cooperation with several environment protection and nature conservation organizations, works for the improvement of a number of critical issues of national importance. Using the round-table meetings and consulations we have continued dialogue with governmental organizations as well. Plans for the future: The enhancement of the four target issues. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: in all kind of described activities. (Source: Fax from Erzsebet Schmuck) ***** 10. EYFA - HUNGARY HUNGARY Address: Veronika Mora Lovohaz u. 19 1024 Budapest HUNGARY tel: +36.1.115 2218 fax: +36.1.132 3432 E-mail: vera eyfa.zpok.hu Chairman: Veronika Mora Contact person: Veronika Mora Year of establishment: 1988 Number of members: app. 20 Type of organization: local Main aims: * On the one hand we want to educate ourselves, learn about environment-development questions with the help of resource persons and the material received from foreign organizations. * On he other hand we want to raise public awareness about certain environmental problems, those affecting young people the most directly. These include issues like biking, waste, overconsumption - we do actions, publish leaflets, give lectures about them. * In spite of our name we don't only work on forest problems, though it is also in our interest. We meet on a weekly basis - these gatherings give possibility to discuss organizational matters as well for self-education. Main activities: * In the first times we have organized the EYFA activities concerning Hungary, spread and forwarded international and national information. * In accordance with this we have organized the Hungarian branch of the international biketour both in summer 1992 and 1993. * This gave us an opportunity to make propaganda for biking as an environment friendly means of traffic in Hungary - we think it is a very important task to do. * Besides we could show the Hungarian environmental situation to foreign participants. * We also participated in the international A SEED campaign during the UNCED process (and also afterwards). * We prepared a booklet introducing the global issues to young people and gave some of them a possibility to participate in international conferences and meetings. This formed their attitude and raised their awareness considerably. As a result of this several new, small groups were formed in different cities involving more young people in environmental work. * In the recent times - although we still keep in touch with international organizations - our activities became quite independent, we formed our own programmes. Plans for the future: - biketour to ECOTOPIA '94 in Romania, - solidarity evening with the Mexican uprising in March, - anti-nuclear action near Paks on Earth Day. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: we hope to involve new people by these actions who can carry on with the activities and who will be pledged to real changes towards a sustainable society. (Source: The letter from Veronika Mora) ***** 11. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CLUB OF LATVIA LATVIA Address: 12 Smilsu 1966 Riga LATVIA tel: +371.2.224 023 fax: +371.2.212 917 Name of chairman: Arvids Ulme Contact person: Year of establishment: 1987 Number of members: 2 500 Number of local groups: 19 regional groups and programs Type of organization: national, local, grassroots Main aims: * To raise public awarenes in environmental protection * To struggle against causes of environmental degradation * To promote demilitarization with nonviolent actions * To promote following to an overall human rights and democracy. Main activities: The form of activities - organizing joint work, protest actions and other actions, - organizing exhibitions, seminars, discussions, concerts, etc., - establishing the green schools, libraries, independent laboratories and green tribunals, - publishing and spreading of information. The list of actions from 1993: * 22 April - Earth Day * 15 May - action against climate changes. Spreading of information among pedestrians, short speeches in the Dome square. * 22 May - Day without cars in Kuldiga. Well organized action to protect atmoshere from exhausts gases of the traffic. Competitions, performances and concerts in the town. Mainly target group -childrens. * In October 1993 and in January 1994 took place wide spread "Glass Recycling Action" accepted by Latvian mass media, we proclaim glass recycling as a campaign for 1994. * Since September 1993 VAK is implementing the project "Strenghtening Environmental NGOs in CEE" coordinated by FOE European Coordination and financially supported by EC PHARE Democracy Programme. * On November 1993 VAK have organized the conference "Towards Sustainability, Tactics and Strategy for VAK as Environmental NGO in Latvia during Transfer Period to Market Economy". * VAK have established the Green Center for Sustainable Future in Ivande, in rural area. center promotes different kind of activities, conferences, seminars, and consultations are included. (Source: fax from Eriks Leitis, Head of Foreigns of VAK) ***** 12. UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA ECOLOGICAL CENTRE - ULEC LATVIA Address: 19 Rainis blv. LV-1586 Riga LATVIA tel: +371.2.225 304 fax: +371.2.225 039 telex: 161172 TEMA SU E-Mail: root ekocentrs.riga.lv Chairman (director): Valdis Bisters Contact person: Lolita Kalnina Year of establishment: 1989 Number of members: 9 Number of local groups: no Type of organisation: center for environmental education Main aims: * Information and service for environmental education and awareness raising, * Research and training in environmental education * Publication work. Main activities: * Elaboration of the data base on environmental education materials, personalities, organizations and events in the field of environmental education, e.g. - "Environmental Education Network (EENET) project for Central and Eastern Europe," periodical newsletter EENET NEWS, EE Catalog, EENET YEAR BOOK - as a project of Greenway, - Preparation of the Baltic NGO directory - contribution to the Eastern European NGO directory developed by the Regional Environmental Centre, - Dissemination in Latvia of the information materials prepared by IUCN and other educational materials, * EE library, general and specially oriented directories, * Organization of national and international conferences, study visits and exchanges, e.g. The programme on environmental study tours and exchanges. * Development and implementation of training programmes and materials on environmental education for schoolteachers, NGOs and teacher trainers, curricula development, e.g. - Health Education in Latvian Schools - Air pollution Project Europe in Latvia : aiming at improvement of knowledge of teachers and pupils on the sources of air pollution, - Environmental Education Training Courses for Schoolteachers on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental issues through application of interactive teaching/learning methodology, * Research work through application of environmental modelling and simulation techniques, organization of national and international training seminars for schoolteachers and NGOs, - Simulation and Gaming Set in Environmental Education for Central and Europe : project aims at development of a set of various simulation games for environmental education with a view to resource and environmental circumstances of CEE (Greenway project), - Simulation and Gaming Library and Service on Environmental Education : educational source material base for environmental education comprising a variety of interactive training materials, - Environmental Education Training Seminar for NGOs in Latvia. * Publication of newsletters, text books, methodical materials, simulation games, directories, flyers and other materials on environmental topics in Latvian and English, translation, adaption and publication of foreign educational materials. Plans for the future: - organization of the Conference on Environmental Education in Europe - "European Environmental Futures", 11-16 October 1994, Jurmala. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - on environmental education issues. (Source: Fax from Lolita Kalnina) ***** 13. THE ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT OF MACEDONIA - DEM MACEDONIA Address: Bul. Ilinden,b.b. p.Box 558 91 000 Skopje MACEDONIA tel:+389.91.220 518 fax: +389.91.331 434 or +389.91.117 612 Chairman: Josif Tanevski Contact person: Melita Ivanova Year of establishment: May 1990 Number of members: 3 000 Number of local groups: 62 Type of organisation: national Main aims: * To protect the environment as a condition for the survival of the nature and the human kind, * To serve as an agent in spreading all relevant ecological information in all possible direction in the social and international communities from the sources of the information to the institutions and citizens, organizations and opposite, * Intervention for rational exploiting of the natural sources, energy and other non-renewable sources, * Intervention for removing all factors they lead towards the destruction of the animal and plant world, pollution of water soil and air, etc, * Intervention on proposing new laws regarding the preservation of the environment as well as modifying, fullfilling the existing laws which are inadequate, * Environmental education of young people and adults and more others. Main activities: * During more than three years of work DEM organized several round-tables, public forums, protests, demonstrations. Two symposium on protection of Dojran and Ohrid lakes were organized. * Among the most important annual activities for raising public awareness are "Days of Spring - Days of Ecology", "Earth Day", Day of Environment". The Days of Spring-Days of Ecology are organized during the first week of spring. During those days citizens, children, pupils and students are invited to take part on rundtables, picknick, photo-exhibitions, nature cleaning and refforestration, environmental lectures, discussions, etc. * Last year (1993) DEM started an action "I love nature, I love life". The idea is to iniciate love towards nature of the pupils from the first grade of the primary schools by planting their own tree and caring of it. * In the last three years DEM organized numerous debates against pollution from individual factories. In April 1993 after 3 years pressure "Ohis" factory - the main pollutor of underground waters near Skopje started the work of a newly built purification system of water, * DEM has organized several protests - the most recent ones are against air pollution in Skopje and against the pollution of Ohrid Lake. * DEM has great support to all these activities from mass media. Newspapers, TV, radio and magazines are constantly informing about DEM activities and helping in raising public awareness of the environment. Approximately they are 10 journalists who are reporting daily on environmental issues. * Every year is DEM awarded the "Green Apple" and the "Rotten Apple" for the organizations and individuals concerning their approach to the environment. (Green Apple is a symbol of DEM.) Plans for the future: - to continue the campaign against the pollution of lakes Ohrid and Dojran, - to organize the Third symposium of protection of Prespa Lake - with cooperation with ecological groups from Albania, - to organize regional metings on specific environmental problems. Looking forward for cooperation with other NGOs: on all mentioned issues, exchanging experiences and information. (Source: DEM Platform and fax from Melita Ivanova) ***** 14. ECOSENS ROMANIA Address: Str. Paul Greceanu 9 Bl. 201, Et.6, Ap.38 sector 2 72119 Bucharest ROMANIA tel/fax: +40.1.613 2414 Chairman: none Contact persons: Cristian Stoian Rasinaru/Marcu Gerge Razvan Year of establishment: 1992 Number of members: 15 Type of organization: local Main aims: * To spread the ecological principles, * To gather people in trying to improve the NGO efforts of environmental protection, * To propose alternative solutions, rely and support the current ones reporting on environmental problems, * To warn people and to avoid all mistakes that have been made in Romania and abroad. Main activities: * Environmental Training Camp in Cozia Mountains (August 1993) with achieved goals: - fitting out mountain routes, - cleaning touristic areas, - marking routes and advertising panels, - environmental education in "Caciulata Children Camp", - video film, folder. * Projects under way: - Environmental Education programme "Let's learn how to live on the Earth", kept in a few shools in Bucharest, - Establishing an informational NGO network between environmental organizations in Romania, in cooperation with Mileiukontakt Oost-Europa, - Cooperation with EYFA-The Netherlands for organizing Ecotopia '94 in Romania. Plans for the future: Environmental Education happening-workshop; Exchange programmes between Romanian and foreign environmental NGOs. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs on issues: - environmental education, - energy, - recycling, - exchange programmes. (Source: Fax from Cristian Rasinaru and Marcu Razvan) ***** 15. RHODENDRON ACTION GROUP ROMANIA Address: P.O.Box 317 4300 Tirgu Mures ROMANIA tel: +40.954.31704 (home-Istvan Sido) fax: +40.954.32907 Chairman: Istvan Sido Contact person: Istvan Sido Year of establishment: 1990 - Rhododendron Eco Club 1993 - Rhododendron Action Group Number of members: 80 Type of organisation: grassroot, branch From the history: The ecological NGO Rhododendron was established in 1990 by a few enthusiastic people from different groups of citizens: specialists, teachers, pupils and youth,etc. They tried to attract also public to their actions, like tree-planting on the Earth-day, seminars, radio programmes,and educational activities, etc. The largest-scale of their work was the documentation of nature sources of area in the Calimani Mountains (Carpathians) what was the basis for declaration of new national park. In the spring of 1993 part of Rhododendron Eco Club members established the Rhododendron Action Group. Main aims: * Increasing public awareness on environmental problems. They focus especially on young people and student, * Environmental education of own members and all kind of people, * Establishment of nature reservations and research on their evolution, * Organisation of campaigns for healthy town and district. Main activities: * Organisation of the Third Romanian NGO Conference, * Series of lectures concerning the problems of environmental movements in the world especially in Romania, * Cooperation by organisation of national conference on water pollution, * Cooperation with local authorities by creation of nature reservation of narcissi flower, * Organisation of research summer camp, * Campaign against the car transport in Mures river area and National Park Calimani Mountains following by long-term caring of National Park, * Project on environmental education of teachers, * Publishing of monthly information bulletin for environmental NGOs and a local newsletter, articles in the local newspapers and regular radio-programmes, * Rhododendron Action Group has a little green library and a collection of videotapes with environmental films. (Source: Fax from Istvan Sido) ****** 16. EARTH - FRIENDS (Ecological Projects Centre) RUSSIA Address: P.Box 400 123 423 Moscow RUSSIA tel: +7.095.191 2326 fax: +7.095.295 6511 box 7314 (Central Post public fax) E-mail: ngrishin glas.apc.org Chairman: Nikolai Grishin Contact person: Elena Popirina Year of establishment: 1992 Number of members: 57 Number of local groups: 5 Type of organization: Russian inter-regional NGO Main aims: Support and development of the principles of * environmental impact assessment, * sustainable energy, * sustainable development. Main activities: We carried out a number of environmental projects in different fields, among them are:_ * environmental education and information exchange: - projects "Conferences" (Moscow, All-Russian and International Scientific and Seminars for the young environmentalists; publishing the reports of such meetings), - project "Environmental International Camp"(places: Valaam Island - Ladoga Lake and Moscow), participants were from Russian, American and Czech NGOs, - project Environmental Course "Environment of Moscow" (environmental eductaion of the Moscow decision-makers and NGOs. * water system protection and investigation: - project "Chernobyl"(transformation of the radioactive elements around Chernobyl NPP after 1986), - projects "Moscow River" and "Volga River" (contamination of the river sediments by heavy metals, oil products and radioactive elements). * environmental impact assessment (EIA) and review: - projects dealing with the estimation of the environmental grounds and consequences of the construction of big entities: gas-oil plants in Siberia ("Surgut", "Uvat"), hydropower station in the Far East of Russia ("Ussury") and others. * We are one of founders of the new magazine "Ecological Examination" (Environmental Review). Plans for the future: mainly the work on the projects: - "Energy policy of Russia from the NGO's point of view". - "EIA-Project" (Development of the NGOs activity in EIA ). Looking for cooperation with other NGOs on: - information exchange, - translation in Russian language and edition of Greenway's materials, - joint EIA-activity in Central and Eastern Europe, - carrying out joint projects or expeditions. (Source: Fax from Nikolai Grishin) ***** 17. SLOVAK UNION OF NATURE AND LANDSCAPE PROTECTORS - SZOPK SLOVAKIA Address: Gorkeho 6 811 01 Bratislava SLOVAKIA tel/fax: +42.7.364 665 Chairman: Miroslav Fulin Contact person: Jozef Gregor Year of establishment: 20 June 1969 Number of members: near 7 000 Number of local groups: 423 Type of organisation: national, grassroot Main aims: * To further public awareness of environmental issues, * To increase public participation in both short-term and developing long-term solutions of environmental problems, * to influence decision making. Main activities are divided into several areas: * natural resources protection: - nature reserves protection - proposing of new reserves, e.g. Trilateral National Park on Danube - re-evaluation og megalomanic harmful projects, e.g. construction of commercial touristic centres in Rohace Mountains and Low Tatras, project of water dam system in Gabcikovo, project of Winter Olympic Games in National Parks High Tatra and Low Tatra,etc. - practical nature conservation - replanting of scarce plants, reforestration, etc. * protection of historical structures of the landscape: - practical works on countryside protection as a whole, - re-evaluation of landscape planning and designing to help to keep legal preceptes regulating man's intervention in the nature and landscape * cultural heritage protection: - practical and theoretical conservation of historical mainly folk wooden rural architecture, technical monuments, historical city cores, etc. * environmental education and work with young people, e.g. establishment of Centres of Environmental Education, training courses for teachers, educators, lecturers, children, workshops, excursions, summer camps, etc. * making of expertises, publishing activities and propaganda, Eco-film festivals, exhibitions, evaluation of various conceptions, laws, etc. * spreading of informations, posters, leaflets, journals, conferences, seminars, lectures, press conferences, green library, etc. * special environmental issues - health, alternative energy, nuclear energy, waste management, traffic * social activities - consumers' movement, help to handicapped people, organization of various cultural events in order to focus public attention to environmental issues. Plans for the future: - activities in frame of campaign against Winter Olympic Games 2002 in two Slovakian National Parks, - project of Protection of East Carpathians, - Danube Basin Programme. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: on the projects mentioned above (plans). (Source: Leaflet on SZOPK and information from Peter Sabo.) ***** 18. THE SOCIETY FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING - STUZ SLOVAKIA Address: Mikulas Huba Starotursky chodnik 1 811 01 Bratislava SLOVAKIA tel: +42.7.498 020 fax: +42.7.313 968 Chairman: Mikulas Huba Contact person: Andrea Chorvathova Year of establishment: 6 October 1992 Number of members: 80 Number of local groups: 2 regional branches (White Carpathians and Sub-Tatra) Type of organisation: national (including environmentally oriented scientists, artists, journalists etc.) Main aims: * To deeper understand the relations between Man and Nature, between human society and its environment, * To search for the path leading for sustainable ways of life, to get nearer to ideals of humanism and of harmonic relations betwen Man and Nature, having in mind the priority of preservation of life in its whole diversity and of the protection of nature as a whole, having in mind the responsibility towards both present and future generations, * To search for and to promote the human values and ways of life that should enable the sustainable qualitative development of the human abilities, which should be an alternative to the quantitative growth based on still increasing the consumption of energy and material estates resulting from collective illusions or from selffishness and hedonism, * To project and promote the concept of sustainable ways of living at local, regional, national and global levels, * To inform the public of the state of the environment, its reasons and consequences, and propose solutions of the mutually related ecological, economic, social and political problems, * To initiate and international network of organizations that should promote the sustainable ways of living. Main activities are divided to several areas: * Effective lobying in the direction of the government, parliament,local governments, businesses, industrial and other structures with the aim to influence their strategies, politics and decision-making process in the direction of sustainable development continuity( lobbying for support of new environmental laws - Nature protection, EIA, Anti-Ozon depletion, etc.), * Organization of conferences, meetings, workshops, e.g. International Conference on Sustainable Living in Europe, Kostelec n/C,1993; international seminar: Revitalisation of the Rural Landscape, Nova Bosaca, 1993; workshop: Sustainable Development of the Sub-Tatra Region and Problems of Regional Centres for Environmental and Sustainable Living,Kvacany, 1993; workshop: Social, Economical and Environmental Development of the Slovak Republic from the point of View of the Aspects of Sustainability in the Period 1989-1993, etc., * Initiation of the hearings, round-tables, forums, etc. of representatives of NGOs, independent experts and the public, * In order to improve public awareness and participation STUZ presents to the public international documents (UNCED '92, Luzern '93 etc.) through mass-media, * Cooperation in practical revitalisation of rural settlements and landscape during the weekends (Zajezova, Podsip, Kvacianska dolina, Polana, Terchova,Liptovsky Peter, etc.), * Publishing of the most important results of activities (stand- points, results of projects, etc) in the form of simple proceedings (e.g. standpoints to the proposal of the water law, to the novel of the air protection, to the water management policy, to the Winter Olympic Games 2002 in Slovakia, to the problems of Aluminium -plant in Ziar, and many others.) * Meetings, ad hoc workshops, press-conferences - monthly. Plans for the future: - regular press conferences and panel discussions on actual themes, - sustainable living concepts on the local, regional and international levels: project "Restoration of Rural Communities and Landscapes of the White Carpathians", - publishing activities, exhibition, seminars, etc. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - on issues of sustainable living, - on the Sofia'95 process. (Source: Leaflet STUZ and written material from Mikulas Huba.) ***** 19. UNICORN - ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLISHING HOUSE/WISE UKRAINE UKRAINE Address: Post Box 429 254 060 Kiev - 60 UKRAINE tel: +7.044.442 3171 fax: +7.044.440 3017 Chairman: Andrey Glazovoy Contact person: Lessia Kalashnyk Year of establishment: 1992 Number of members: 17 Number of local groups: 1 Type of organization: informational and service NGO Main aims: * To provide NGOs, experts and journalists in Ukraine and other countries of the Former Soviet Union with books, newsletters and briefing papers on topics related to renewable energy, nuclear energy, etc, * Special attention is payd to the environmental education of pupils, * Organizing conferences, seminars, trainings. Main activities: * Publishing of brochures on solar power and renewable energy (3 issues), * Technical assistance for other NGOs (unification of computer programs and computer trainings, layout and preparation of informational materials, E-mail installation,etc.), * Information exchange service for NGOs, * Informational and technical support for the campaigns, * Project on publishing authorized Ukrainian version of newsletter WISE (World Informational Service on Energy), which is very helpful for Ukrainian anti-nuclear groups and environmental movement. It is spread free of charge for NGOs and mass-media. From October 1993 we started an E-mail version of WISE-Ukraine (more than 30 addresses in Ukraine and Russia), * UNICORN is a member of EcoMissia NGOs network. We took part in all projects specialized to the environmental E-mail network for Ukrainian NGOs, independent information agency for environment and development. Plans for the future: establishing of environmental information agency on the existing base of UNICORN/WISE Ukraine and specialized ....???? Looking for cooperation with other NGOs: - on info-exchange, - anti-nuclear campaigns, - trainings. (Source: Fax from Lessia Kalashnyk and Andrey Glazovoy) ***** 20. ZELENY SVIT (Green World) - Ukraininan Environmental Assosciation UKRAINE Address: Kontraktova pl. 4 254 070 Kiev UKRAINE tel: +7.044.417 0283 fax: +7.044.417 4383 Chairman: Mykola Korobko Contact person: Yeugene Yesirkenov Year of establishment: 1988 Number of members: near 2000 Number of local groups: near 100 Type of organization: national with departments in all regions of Ukraine. Main aims: * Forming of ecological vision, environmental thinking and culture in society by involvement of community in environmental movement, * Creating of nongovernmental system of nature monitoring, * Fighting against concrete cases of pollution and destruction of nature, * Actions connected with tree planting, * Carrying out public environmental expertises, * Pressure (lobbying) on state bodies to influence the decision making, * Public control on implementation of environment protection laws, * International cooperation with environmental and antimilitarist organizations against ecological crisis, war and violation of human rights. Main activities: * Monitoring the acid rain in Ukraine. Campaign with citizens to measure acidity of rain-water, * Planting trees on the banks of small rivers, * Photo-exhibition against barbarian cutting of trees for the New Year celebration, * Organization of the conference for teachers concerning environmental education in the schools, * Fighting against nuclear industry and exploitation of Chernobyl reactors. Independent legal investigation of Chernobyl disaster (available in English) and demand to prosecute those who are guilty in violation of human rights, * Project to provide informational help to people who are living in radiation contamined areas. Creation of 30 public groups for dosimetric controll, purchased with 400 ?????dosimeters and learned 101 people to use them, * Investigation the environmental crimes of Soviet Army in Ukraine and publishing the materials in the newspaper Zeleny Svit, * Publishing the environmental newspaper "Zeleny Svit". Plans for the future: - Establishment of e-mail network of our regional organizations (together with ISAR and Soros Foundation), - Creation of environmental TV programme (monthly), - Organization of seminar on fundraising for all environmental NGOs in Ukraine (together with ISAR), - Promotion of Project on Sustaimable Ukraine, - Promotion of Project on Sustainable Agriculture, - Black Sea Project. Looking for cooperation with other NGOs on issues: - Alternative energy, - Paper recycling, - Sustainable agriculture, - Sustainable tourism, - Sustainable Europe, - Fundraising. (Source: Fax from Yeugene Yesirkenov) ***** II. CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS 1. 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 post-conference excursions, exhibitions, round table discussions etc., which foster an exahange 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 participation 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 ***** 2. 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 any 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 on 3-4 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. For more information contact: RNDr. Jan Kleinert Slovak Agency of the Environment Dept. Nature Protection Lazovna 10 974 01 Banska Bystrica, SLOVAKIA tel: +42.88.754289 ***** 3. ECOFINEX 1995 An exhibition "Nature and Wildlife on currencies 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 longer 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: Dr. Jan Kleinert, Slovak Agency of the Environment, Dept. Nature Protection, Lazovna 10, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, SLOVAKIA, tel:+42.88.754269 ***** 4. ECOTOPIA 1994 Since ECOTOPIA '94 will be held in Romania the EYFA Hungary decide to organize a biketour to the place. It will start on the 21th July 1994 in Tiszafured (Eastern Hungary) and reach Ecotopia on the 4th August 1994. It will last for two week, with a distance of 700 km. The route is as follows: 21 July 1994 Tiszafured 22 July 1994 Tokaj 23 July 1994 Vasarosnameny 24 July 1994 Satu Mare (border crossing) 25 July 1994 Zilah then: Cluj - Napoca - Turda - Targu Mures - Sovata - Ecotopia (dates not fixed yet). The daily average distance will be 60 km, with the last part way up in the Carpathians being the most difficult. We will see many nice places of Trannsylvania and also try to make biking more popular there. We expect 50-60 participants, most of them Hungarians and Rumanians, but anyone else is welcome of course. The participant fee for internationals is 15 ECU per day (this includes warm food, lodging, escort and maybe also the way back if we manage to organize a special train wagon). The Trannsylvanian part will be organized by PRO BICYCLO-URBO, a cyclists' group from Tirgu Mures. Of course both of us cooperates with other environmentally oriented organizations and persons. Source: Veronika Mora EYFA Hungary Lovohaz u. 19 1024 Budapest HUNGARY tel: +36.1.115 2218 fax: +36.1.132 3432 E-mail: vera eyfa.zpok.hu *****