OSCE Office in Baku marks Earth Day

BAKU, 22 April 2004 - A series of events and outdoor activities for Azerbaijani children, aimed at teaching them to understand the global environmental challenges and to be more responsible towards nature, were held today throughout the country as part of a campaign dedicated to Earth Day.

"It is the duty of the government and the people to make sure that the land is preserved, the air is clean and the water is pure," said Ambassador Peter Burkhard, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. "Our Office is ready to provide assistance and support to ensure that Azerbaijan can effectively address the environmental challenges it faces".

Several non-governmental organizations, including Ecosphere, Gulum (My flower) and Green Patrol, are leading a campaign, supported by the OSCE Office in Baku, under the educational and awareness raising programmes of the Aarhus Centre. Among the activities are seminars, opinion polls on environmental awareness, cleanups of public parks and areas around schools, as well as tree planting and water testing events.

Commenting on the results of the project, Firuza Sultanzadeh, Chair of Ecosphere said: "Although Earth Day is celebrated once a year, we want to encourage people to be more active in preserving the environment, and making the world a better place to live. When people learn to care for the Earth, we will have a healthier planet."

Earth Day has been commemorated since 22 April 1970, when some 20 million people held peaceful demonstrations in cities across the United States of America to draw attention to increasing environmental problems in their neighbourhoods and around the world.