On 6 June, UNIC Canberra marked World Oceans Day at the Melbourne Aquarium  with an event highlighting the success of a citizen science project to identify the impact of marine debris.
Organized by Earthwatch Australia and the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) the event centred on the Earthwatch project, TeachWild, which inspires Australian school children to become citizen scientists to survey the sources and distribution of marine debris on local beaches across the country. 

The Director of UNIC Canberra opened the event with the Secretary-General’s message for the Day, and the audience also heard from the CSIRO lead project scientist, the Country Social Investment Manager from Shell who sponsor the project.  The highlight of the event was a show and tell by students from Emerald Primary School who demonstrated how they used collected rubbish to form artistic sculptures.

Andijan’s School №39 is one of several public buildings in Uzbekistan that have incorporated new energy-efficient designs with UNDP’s assistance, to ensure that students and teachers can work in comfortable surroundings while helping to preserve the environment.

Attended by 315 students from three nearby villages, home to 6000 residents, school №39 in the Toshkurgan’ village of Andijan’s Kurgantepa district, has been constructed using modern techniques and methodologies promoted by the joint UNDP, GEF and Gosarkhitektstroy project ‘Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Uzbekistan’. 

On 30 May, journalists and representatives of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the UN Office in Uzbekistan visited the school to see its new features, including its insulated floor, walls and ceiling, heat-reflective screens, heating systems using polypropylene pipes, and other technologies widely used in design and construction.

The new technologies in the school have resulted in a reduction of the school’s energy use by 40 per cent. To keep the public better informed about basic concepts in energy efficiency, the project “Improvement of Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Uzbekistan”, posted 500 posters about the subject in Tashkent’s public transport system during EcoWeek 2013.

In addition, on the 5th of June the ‘Tashkent’ radio channel celebrated World Environment Day by inviting the public to participate in an open quiz about how energy-efficient practices can be best utilised in public buildings.

EcoWeek 2013 organizers included the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Nature Protection, UNDP, the UN Office in Uzbekistan, the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF SGP), and the Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).

Information support was provided by UNO Tashkent.

As the relevant website explains (http://www.humanrights.dirpolis.sssup.it/en), the programme – which enjoys UNRIC’s patronage - is designed to provide international students with a deep understanding of the linkages between human rights and conflict management theory and practice. The curriculum, strongly field oriented, prepares participants for working with NGOs, governments, aid agencies, the UN system, regional organisations and other institutions where a deep understanding of these issues is critical. UNRIC/Italy, which has developed a long-lasting working cooperation with the Master’s, took part in this XI edition’s training activity with a detailed presentation centered on UN and public information activities on the field level, with focus on the UN peacekeeping context. The wide array of tools used by DPI in the field to implement strategic communications policies was examined, drawing on UNRIC-made information resources as well as on DPI peacekeeping related information material.

This was then followed by an UNRIC-created presentation on UN careers/employment opportunities. The event provided the desk officer with the opportunity to present UNRIC’s activities, including its Europe-wide campaigns. Reference was made to UNRIC internship programme, as well as to the UN increasing use of social media as a vehicle to get institutional messages across. The desk officer committed to featuring as a point of reference in the UN context for and sustained questioning from participants, who were encouraged to keep in contact with the office by signing up to the desk’s thematic mailing lists and joining the Facebook institutional page.

“Think. Eat. Save.” The theme of this year’s World Environment Day was taken up by the ‘ 2013 World Environment Congress’ organized by the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The event saw many school students and teachers standing up for the cause of sustainable development and ‘Food For All’. A number of activists were felicitated for their contributions to the cause of the environment.
 
Delivering the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNIC New Delhi’s Director said, “The theme of this years’ World Environment Day focuses on food security and sustainable development. We live in a world of plenty where demand surpasses supply. There are millions who go without food every day. There is a need to ensure equity in the distribution of food and make food systems sustainable, ensuring food for all. This is the vision of the ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ launched last year.”
 

The challenge requires comprehensive efforts to ensure that every man, woman and child enjoy their Right to Adequate Food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are sustainable and resilient.
 
The Director also encouraged the students to take up these goals. “You are our hope for the future and you are best placed to achieve them,” she added.