June 5th is not just another day but an important public day for the humankind---World Environment Day. In order to raise environmental awareness and to encourage action to protect the environment worldwide, the United Nations General Assembly decided to choose June 5th as World Environment Day in 1972.
30 years past and environment protection proved to be a hard task and a long way to go. United Nations set this year's theme as "I Give Earth a Chance” and countries celebrated the Day in various ways.
UN: Concerted Effort Urged
Stressing the importance of global conservation, United Nations leaders marked the World Environment Day on Wednesday by urging a concerted effort to incorporate ecological concerns into social and economic policies.
In a message to observe the day, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that this year's theme, "I Give Earth a Chance," was meant to convey a sense of urgency about the state of the planet and the broader quest for sustainable development.
"I hope that all states and all stakeholders will come together at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa later this year, and that the breakthrough this time, 10 years along the path from Rio, will be real and tangible," Annan said.
Cuba: Community Takes a Positive Role
Cuba celebrated World Environmental Day on Wednesday with the community taking a positive role in the protection of the environment and involved in more education about nature.
The president of the Nationals Environmental Agency, Gisela Alonso, assured the press that Cuban authorities had a clear political concept on sustainable development.
During 2001, Cuba, the largest Caribbean country, had reduced the release of pollution by 10.2 percent and increased the area covered by forests.
This year, forecasts pointed to a three percent cut in the release of pollutants through a demanding environmental licensing of new investments, biodiversity research and five-year programs against desertification and drought, among other measures.
Philippine:" Green Families and Communities Festival Day"
The Philippines joined more than 120 countries worldwide in celebrating the World Environment Day on Wednesday, with the international theme "Give Earth a Chance!"
The occasion was marked by a whole day " attended by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Mountaineers for the Environment, and families promenading in the Ninoy Aquino Parks and the Wildlife Nature Center in Metro Manila.
The Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Heherson Alvarez who presented at the ceremony called on the public to support the programs of the DENR on year 2002 as the International Year of the Mountains which puts emphasis on the protection and conservation of forests and watersheds especially because of the onslaught of El Nino.
India: Educate Children Through Eco-clubs Programe
The Indian government has recently decided to establish Eco-clubs in 55,000 schools across the country to help children understand environment and environmental problems.
With the population increasing rapidly, India's whole environment is facing a terrible pressure. To keep surroundings clean or to conserve natural resources by re-using wherever possible looks comparatively simple, but changing attitudes of one billion of people is not going to happen overnight.
"The best way to bring about a change in the environmental attitude of the society is through children. They have no vested interest. They are our future. Besides, they hold the single most important influence in any family," said an official of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India.
Spain: Greenpeace Promotes Clean Energy
The environmental group, Greenpeace, organized a demonstration, dubbed Solar Caravan 2002, on World Environmental Day, Wednesday.
People in Spanish cities faced promotions for the use of clean energy sources.
With the slogan "Choose a Positive Energy", Greenpeace members informed people of the benefits of using photoelectric panels that turn solar energy into electricity.
Caravan 2002 will present a petition, signed by people calling for the use of non-polluting sources of energy, to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar during the Seville European Summit.
(Edited by Zheng Guihong for china.org.cn according to reports from Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2002)
