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Taking advantage of St. Jordi’s Day, the Andorran Young Greens planned to set up an info stand in the main square, where passersby had the opportunity to increase their knowledge on climate change and the green movement in general. In this sense, the FYEG flag was displayed and, of course, Captain Climate also made her appearance.
Also, the Andorrans organized a press conference introducing the campaign. The “Feet on the Street” action aimed at establishing channels of communication with the local community (both individuals and associations) and to have an insight into people’s interests, suggestions and problems. In particular, they sought for a cycling association in order to look into the possibility of introducing a bike way network in the city.
BULGARIA
The Bulgarian Young Greens together with the Green Party organized an action devoted to the 'Forest Week' and preceding the International Earth Day - 22 April 2008.
On 20 April the Young Greens did a symbolic tree planting and clean up of Lake Pancharevo near the capital Sofia. There were a lot of people attending the event which was good signal for the citizens’ environmental awareness in the last year. The day ended up in a cheerful yet relaxing atmosphere of a green picnic out in the nature.
ITALY
Penguins and polar bears in the centre of Rome!
In the framework of the “Keep it Cool!”, the campaign against climate change, the Italian Young Greens launched an action in the centre of Rome, in order to raise awareness about the global warming and its effects; one of the main purpose of the initiative was to inform the population about the big difference that our little daily gestures can make; turning off our household electrical appliances, closing the water when we brush our teeth, keeping the heat slightly below the levels we’re used to, are among the correct behaviours that make us save a lot of energy; that’s what we tried to communicate, with the support of Captain Climate, a herd of penguins and a big polar bear in Largo di Torre Argentina, a symbolic location both for tourists and Italians.
A huge number of people stopped by, the curiosity was big and it is understandable, it’s not everyday that you see arctic animals in the place where Julius Caesar was murdered! The Young Greens, full-crew staff for the occasion, had a busy time to explain to all the curious’ the reasons of the initiative and distributing vademecum, flyers and material. Energy and water waste, clean transport and CO2 emissions were the most requested topics; but there was also big interest about nuclear energy, which is becoming more and more an issue in Italy, especially after the elections; Monia Franceschini, Coordinator for the Young Greens of Central Italy, clearly stated that “making few little gestures we can make the difference!”. And speaking about the Chernobyl commemoration, on April 26th, adds that “the situation in Italy is that the right-wing government is trying to impose nuclear energy from above. Therefore, the answer must come from below, with a strong opposition and local actions like ours. The population will say no one more time, as they did with the referendum in 1987”.
A video description of the action can be found at http://www.giovaniverdieuropa.tv.
ROMANIA
“Asociatia Verzii” (Romanian Young Greens), together with another green organization called Greenstrike!, carried out two street actions in the capital Bucharest. Taking advantage of the wonderful weather, the jolly bunch of greenies first gathered in one of the central parks, introducing to the young and not-so-young public their special guest: Captain Climate. Passersby were given information on the impro5.jpgortance of individual lifestyle in fighting climate change, the message being reinforced by several extremely illustrative posters. Were people sensitive enough about the topic? Well, considering that the “Personal Footprint” panel was filled in no time with slogans against climate change and fingerprints in sign of solidarity, we would definitely say YES!
Also, in a sign of solidarity with the suffering of the planet, they decided to go on strike… on a Green Strike! The campaign slogan was “Make Green more than a color!”.
SERBIA
Serbian Green Youth had a joint action on Planet Earth Day together with Volunteers from President of Republic Serbia Office. This Year the topic of the action was dedicated to the fight against Climate Change. This year the action has been held within the KEEP IT COOL Campaign frame.
The citizens of Belgrade could, in the main square, give signatures on the big model of planet Earth, and with it to obligate them selves on planet Earth terms for use. The ones which wanted to take this obligation on them selves, activist of Serbian Green Youth issued a warranty that life on our planet will be preserved within next 2 000 000 years.
SLOVAKIA
On 22nd of April was International Day of Earth. Local group of Green party together with Young Greens organized the protest concert in Pezinok (near Bratislava) against the building-up of landfill. (picture 1, 2, 3) In this town they also prepared a Workshop on the occasion of 22nd anniversary of Chernobyl disaster memorandum. Participants watched documentary films about Chernobyl and afterwards they were invited to discuss on the topic - Alternative sources of energy with chairman of NGO - For Mother Earth Pavol Siroky. From 25th of April also began the eye-catching exposition of Chernobyle photos by Vaclav Vasko.
On the International Day of Earth most of the secondary schools in Slovakia organized outdoor activities in nature. One of the schools together with Young green´s coordinator Marian made a nice green event. Pupils from a small town called Detva debated on the environment topics, watched the documentary film and went out in the nature where they cleaned the surroundings of the touristic district. They collected about twenty big bags of gatbage.
GEORGIA
On the 22nd of April the youth wing of the Green Party of Georgia together with the Green party organized a protest action to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of Chernobyl disaster. At the same time,Georgian Greens once again called their government to stop discussion over construction of first ever nuclear power plant in Georgia and instead invest in renewables.
The main slogan of the action was YeS to Renewables, No- to Nuclear! Media coverage was OK (elucidated in news on 5 and 6 pm). Three TV channels ( MZE, RUSTAVI 2 and Alania) were present as well as the news agency Inperpressnews.
Special post cards produced and printed by Georgian Greens were distributed. Additional information was given on the postcards, comprising also political and economical arguments on why Nuclear is not a solution. Moreover, a letter to the Prime Minister was delivered, calling the government to reconsider their plans about construction of first ever nuclear power plant and instead invest in renewables. We did justify that neither politically nor economically there is no need and necessity to build a nuclear power plan here.
I leave the general impressions to Tamar from the Georgian Young Greens:
"The action went very well, although we hardly escaped incidents from provocateurs; there were few strangers around who tried to provoke a conflict. It’s notable that is not so easy to hold such an action in a pre-election period, in a country like Georgia. I could not even get permission to hold a peaceful marsh on Rustaveli avenue, as planned before. Therefore, we decided to choose a certain spot to hold our action there. Young people in the streets were very proactive! They did sign our petition against construction NPP with pleasure.
In general, it all went very well. We even had some foreigners taking pictures :) Hopefully EU voters :) But the most exciting thing for me was five young volunteers who expressed willingness to join Young Georgian Greens right after the action!"
Update
On the 5th of June in Tbilisi, Georgia on the environmental day Georgian Young Greens held an action entitled "We keep it cool in Georgia" concerned with the growing pollution and terrible traffic in the city. The rate of CO2 is growing immensely due to the use of patrol of low quality and no use of vehicle filters. We require from the government of Georgia to take strong measures regarding the quality of petrol and filters to reduce the rate of pollution in the city.
Also the action was focused on the popularization of the healthy means of transport - bikes. Concerning this subject we require from the city council to draw special tracks for bikes and arrangement of bike parkings. The action included bike race on the main avenue of Tbilisi during which informational fliers were spread containing information on the rate of air pollution in the city and the main causes of climate change.
The mottoes were "use healthy, cheap and transport - bike", " No -drive . Yes-ride" ,"Move Green" and so on. Our partners were "Bike Club Tbilisi "!!!!
The Bulgarian Young Greens together with the Green Party organized an action devoted to the 'Forest Week' and preceding the International Earth Day - 22 April 2008.
