School of Ecology San José

World Environment Day

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:29:23 +0000

Day of event: June 5
Since 1973, the 5 June each year marks the World Environment Day, established by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 2994 (XXVII) of December 15, 1972 with which he opened the Conference Stockholm, Sweden, whose central theme was the Environment.
That same day, the UN General Assembly approved the creation of the United Nations Programme for Environment (UNEP).

You could say that World Environment Day is a vehicle through which the United Nations Organization raise to the world in relation to environmental issues, intensifying the attention and political action and whose main objectives are to give a human context, encouraging people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable, to promote the vital role of communities in changing attitudes towards environmental issues and promote cooperation, as this will ensure that all the nations and peoples enjoy a future more prosperous and secure. World Environment Day is an event with multiple activities: concentrations in streets, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools and colleges, tree planting, recycling campaigns and cleaning, among others. It is also a multimedia event that leads journalists to write and do critical reporting about the environment. Television documentaries, photo exhibitions, intellectual events such as seminars, roundtables, conferences, just to name a few.

In many countries, this celebration is an opportunity to sign or ratify international conventions and, sometimes, provides permanent governmental structures related to environmental management and economic planning. The main international celebrations in 2006 were held in Algeria. This year the theme was “Deserts and Desertification” and the motto Do not Desert Drylands! “, Emphasizing the significance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40% of the planet’s surface. In 2007 however the activities are conducted in Tromsø (Norway) and the theme chosen was “Melting Ice a Hot Topic?” In 2008 the venue was New Zealand, the slogan Kick the Habit! Towards a low carbon economy. In 2009 the headquarters was Mexico, and the slogan: “Your planet needs you – Unite to Combat Climate Change.”
In 2010 the venue will be Rwanda and the slogan: “Many species. One Planet. A Future. “

Earth Day

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:27:48 +0000

Official name: International Day of Mother Earth

Objective: Raise awareness about the challenges to preserve the planet.

Day of event: April 22

Celebrated since: 1970

“The Earth is our home and the home of all living beings. Earth itself is alive. We are part of an evolving universe. We are members of an interdependent community of life with a magnificent diversity of life forms and cultures. We are humbled by the beauty of the Earth and we share a reverence for life and the sources of our being”.

Synthesis
Earth Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries on 22 April. Its sponsor, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, established this day to create a common awareness of the problems of pollution, conservation of biodiversity and other environmental concerns to protect the Earth.

History
The first demonstration took place the 28 April 1970, sponsored by Senator Gaylord Nelson and environmental activist, to creating an environmental agency. This call was attended by two thousand universities, ten thousand primary and secondary schools and hundreds of communities. Social pressure had its achievements and the United States government created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a series of laws aimed at protecting the environment.

In 1972, we held the first international conference on the environment: the Stockholm Conference, whose aim was to raise awareness among world leaders about the magnitude of environmental problems and to institute policies to eradicate them.
The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year at the vernal equinox (around March 21). On February 26, 1971, the Secretary-General U Thant signed a proclamation to that effect. At the time of equinox sounds Peace Bell at UN headquarters in New York.
Earth Day is a holiday that belongs to the people and is not regulated by a single entity or body, nor is related to political demands, national, religious, ideological or racial.
On Earth Day we reflect on the vital importance of fluid that is essential for human life as is water, since only 2% of all the water on the planet is drinkable.
Earth Day aims to raise awareness of Earth’s natural resources and their management, environmental education, and participation as environmentally conscious and responsible citizens.
On Earth Day we are all invited to participate in activities that promote the health of our planet, global, regional and local.

Guatemala will host the 46th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council in 2010

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:24:19 +0000

As part of its foreign policy and efforts to position itself as a leader in forestry, Guatemala will host the 46th session of the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), to be held in Antigua Guatemala in November 2010.
Guatemala’s Ambassador in Japan, Byron Rene Escobedo, and the Manager of the National Forest Institute (INAB), Joshua Morales Dardón, made up the delegation reiterated the request of Guatemala, so for the first time this convention will be held outside Japan, obtaining the support of countries like the United States, China and Brazil, among others.
In the past, Guatemala has been the site of Central American Forestry Congress, Latin American Forestry Congress in 2002 and the International Conference on Criteria and Indicators CICI in 2003, so being the first venue outside Japan for a session of the ITTC strengthens Guatemala’s commitment to the environment, especially in forestry.
During the activity will be undertaken the participation of high level international experts on forests, as well as delegations from 60 countries, producing and consuming members of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), which will give an impetus to Guatemalan forest sector, at the same time, raise awareness of the natural and cultural wealth of the country.

For the realization of the event will have the support of ITTO, as well as Guatemalan institutions as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Institute of Forest, National Protected Areas Council, the Universities of the country, the Forest Guild, various municipalities, NGOs related to environmental issues and Alliance of Community Forestry.
ITTO is an intergovernmental organization promoting the conservation, management, sustainable use and trade of tropical forest resources. Has 59 members who collectively own about 80 percent of the world’s tropical forests, accounting for 90 percent of world trade in tropical timber.