On 28 April 2008 the UN Office (UNO) in Kyiv initiated the all-ukrainian amateurs photography contest in Ukraine entitled "Addressing Climate Change - Caring About Our Planet" in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Olympus in Ukraine.

In less than a month about 1,200 entries were submitted from 970 Ukrainians depicting climate change challenges and consequences in 45 countries. The award ceremony took place on World Environment Day on 5 June with over 150 participants.

All entries were posted on the UNO website and visitors were asked to vote for their favorite picture in the "Public Award Category".

On 29 May 2008, the UN Office (UNO) in Kyiv and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine organized a series of events to observe the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. In addition to a wreath laying ceremony and a press breakfast for journalists, a photo exhibition entitled "Ukraine - Peacemaking State" was launched by the UN and Ukrainian officials. The UN Resident Coordinator addressed the Ukrainian peacekeepers, veterans, journalists and other participants of the ceremony and the Minister of Defense presented government awards to Ukrainian peacekeepers and other servicemen.

More details on the International Day of UN Peackeepers in Ukraine: http://www.un.org.ua/en/news/2008-05-29/ ; http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua

A public discussion called "The Memory of the Holocaust and Ukrainian Society: Educational Perspective" was conducted on 28 January 2008 in Kyiv on observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.  Aimed at encouraging discussion on Holocaust education and remembrance in Ukraine, the event was organized by the UN in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies.

Among the participants of this discussion were UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'Donnell, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Zina Kalay-Kleitman, Special Ambassador on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Gorin, Director of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Ukraine academician Myroslav Popovych, Director of the Holocaust Study Centre in Ukraine Anatloiy Podolsky as well as over 70 teachers, scientists, civil society activists and researchers, governmental authorities and international community representatives and journalists.

During this one-day discussion, the participants exchanged opinions on the methodology of Holocaust teaching in the Ukrainian schools and universities, as well as informal opportunities for teachers.  At the final session, the recommendations for the governmental and civil society stakeholders were developed to foster Holocaust remembrance and teaching in Ukraine.  Please read the full story at http://www.un.org.ua/en/news/2008-01-27/