PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS RAISING PROJECT

WIND ROSE -
ROSA VETROV

Role of the public in the protection of the environment

"Everybody has got the right to live in the environment, which is safe for life and health... Everybody is guaranteed the right to have free access to information about the state of the environment...and also has the right to disseminate it."
Constitution of the Ukraine, article 50.

The problem of improving the state of the environment and raising the quality of life at the same time has become of high priority in the world and is very relevant for the Ukraine in general as well as for Donetsk region.
Our n produces 1/3 of the country's emissions into the air, 1/4 - into water and 1/4 of all waste production. We come into being half as much as we go. Our industry destroys the nature six times quicker than it happens anywhere in the Ukraine. At the same time 1/10 of the Ukrainians live in our region. This is a huge army of hardworking, talented people, who would like to see our land rich and beautiful, and who can protect it from decay.

Donetsk should become a leader of new people's attitude towards nature formation. Our city should become sustainable and we should learn how to live within Earth's carrying capacity, not at the account of the future generations.

We are sure, that every citizen is able to influence positive changes in the environment. The main thing is what position you take and what you do.

Project Goals

• To improve the state of the environment - look around, everything you see can be cleaner, we simply have to remember about that and do something;
• To improve the process of providing information to the public on environmental issues - how much do you know about what you breathe, what you eat and drink? We'll help you to know more!
• To involve the general public into the decision-making process on environmental issues - today it is not possible anymore to ignore the public opinion. Aarhus Convention was ratified by the Supreme Council and it requires that your opinion in environmental issues should be considered. We should know our rights and be aware how to use them. Let's do it together!;
• To improve the system of environmental education in the schools of Donetsk - we can't afford to bring up indifferent to nature children. They are the ones we will hand over everything we have to preserve and redound. Join us, so that our children get necessary skills to take care of the Earth
  

Project Results

• Working system of providing information to the public;
• Working system of seminars for the target groups;
• Experience from the events to involve the public, practical schemes of public involvement;
• Annual information about the state of the environment in Donetsk;
• Working system of public consultations; Sociological surveys results;
• Working Environmental Business Association;
• Working City Sustainable Development Council;
• Methodological materials for teachers, manuals for school children;
• Annual competitions for school children;
• Working system of seminars for the teachers.

Doers

Public Environmental Awareness Project is being implemented by the State Agency of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety in Donetsk Oblast in partnership with the Field Studies Council with the financial support of the Department for the International Development, UK.

Additional information about the project you can get:
Tel:/fax: +380 (62) 342-1511,
email: rv@rozavetrov.donetsk.ua
Contact person - Roman Kishkan

Project structure

The project is for 3 years (2000-2003), and is for 3 target groups (public, local authorities, business) and includes 3 main components:

Providing information

To strengthen the process of providing information to the public on environmental issues, having events to involve the general public into the environmental decision-making process, development of special courses for target groups, preparation of annual information about the state of the environment, developing a system of eco-indicators on the state of the environment, holding sociological surveys.

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Running campaigns

Campaigns and actions, aimed at changing of public awareness, improvement of the environment, development of the dialogue between general public and local authorities, general pubic and business; Environmental Business Association, Donetsk becoming a member of European Sustainable Cities Campaign, establishing a system of small grants for NGOs.

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Environmental education

Development of study manuals for teachers and school children, development and delivery of courses for teachers, organisation of environmental competition for Donetsk schools, development of partnership relations between businesses and school.

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