NEWSLETTER December 2010 CONTENT EDITORIAL CONTENT of the NEWSLETTER Editorial

NEWSLETTER December 2010 CONTENT EDITORIAL CONTENT OF THE NEWSLETTER Editorial

• Editorial ...... 3 Dear readers, classes. Youth and Environment Europe YEE’s NEWS Here it is. We give to your hands the is also visible in the international arena. • LPP Field Monitoring Meeting ...... 4 latest edition of the YEE Newsletter. It We took part in many important events: • Advisory Council on Youth ...... 7 is full of new inspiration and interesting CEEweb Annual Meeting 2010, Europe- • The European Youth Forum Elects New Presidency ...... 8 articles. an Youth Forum General Assembly 2010 • CEEweb Annual Meeting 2010 ...... 10 November was very busy and fruit- and 23rd Advisory Council on Youth. In ful period for our office team in Prague. this publication you can also learn more YEE’s PROJECTS We had a Field Monitoring Visit from the about other activities like: training course • YEE Office Water Monitoring Trip to Czech Karst ...... 12 European Commission Lifelong Learn- in Serbia, Water Monitoring Day, exhibi- • Water Monitoring in the middle of Prague ...... 14 • TC ‘Innovate your life, make it sustainable’ ...... 15 ing Programme (LLP). So, as you can tion on the importance of water, EDEN • Healthy Food Campaign ...... 18 imagine, it was very important and useful ecotourism project and discovering na- • Water in Pictures ...... 19 meeting for us. We showed our visitors ture during winter. all the best about YEE and this year’s December is a time for summing up MO’s PROJECTS projects. We helped them to understand 2010 as it comes to an end and for mak- • EDEN center Nature Guides Group ...... 20 the importance and mission of our organ- ing resolutions for the upcoming year, • Environmental classes for children in Vanadzor, Armenia ...... 23 ization and invited them to participate in 2011. Don’t forget to put YEE in your • Eco-Week Initiative by FYCA ...... 24 our local event: Eco-mapping workshop. new year’s action plan. • The quiet, beautiful winter ...... 26 The visitors were very satisfied with We are looking forward to hearing our work and congratulated us for our from you in the New Year and to even OPINIONS achievements. more fruitful cooperation in 2011. • Vegetarianism on the menu for 2011? ...... 28 These congratulations are also ad- • ‘I love my World’ - how to show nature to others ...... 34 dressed to all of you, our dear MOs. Paulina Piasecka • Call for Partners - Training course: Tourism for Nature ...... 37 Thank you for your projects and your (YEE EVS volunteer) • Christmas wishes ...... 38 commitment. • Winter photos ...... 39 We have a lot to be proud of. Many projects have been successfully implemented within our network. In this issue you can learn more about some of them. You can read how some of our member organizations teach pupils about ecology in schools. FYCA describes their new project for schools “Eco- Editorial team: Week Initiative’’ and Stepanavan Youth Gosia Zubowicz, Gemma Tracey, Paulina Piasecka (design) Center tells us about their environmental

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LLP Field Monitoring Meeting After a short break, we talked about of a theoretical part prepared by Paulina 16th – 17th November, Prague financial issues and the morning part of who gave a presentation about ‘Envi- the visit finished with an open discus- ronmental management’. Afterwards, In 2010 Youth and Environment main characteristics of the YEE work sion. We talked about several interesting we had the opportunity to try out what Europe received an administrative - non-formal education - and we wan- topics such as communication with the we learned in practice as we did an eco- grant from the Lifelong Learning Pro- ted to show it to our guests in practice. funders, reporting, next year’s applica- mapping of one of the buildings of the gram: Jean Monnet of the EACEA Before continuing with the presentation tion process, and more. Later we took a eco-farm. The topic of the workshop was (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Ex- of the work programme which was the short walk around the eco-farm to show very interesting and useful but unfortu- ecutive Agency of the European Commi- core of the visit, I gave a short pre- our guests a bit more of the interesting nately, there were not many participants sion). It is a grant intended for European sentation about the structure and way of location where we work! present which was a pity as the impact Associations active at European level in functioning of our federation (role of An- could have been much bigger. It is defi- the field of Education and Training and nual Meeting, Executive Board, Secre- The day of the visit was a busy nitely something to keep in mind for our European Integration. In order to see tariat, and role and participation of MOs). one, as in the afternoon we organized future local activities, especially when a how well we were getting on with our After describing how our network works, a small local event at the eco-farm – monitoring visit is connected with it. activities, we had two important visi- we were ready to continue with the pre- Eco-mapping workshop. It was com- tors come to the YEE office in Toulcuv sentation of the work programme. bined with a presentation about YEE ac- The next day, on 17th November, we Dvur. Ilona Pokorna and Guido di Fiore, tivities and possibilities about how to get (Gosia and I) still had a short ‘Evalua- representatives of the programme, To kick things off I gave an overall involved. Our local coordinator Michal tion meeting of the monitoring visit’ came for a field monitoring visit. It presentation about the state of imple- Svec and our EVS volunteer, Paulina with the representatives of LLP. It was was not a test, or an audit – this meeting mentation of the work programme and Piasecka were in charge of preparing and very important and interesting for us to aimed mainly to assess the state of im- the ongoing activities. From the YEE leading these afternoon sessions. see their perception of the meeting. They plementation of this year’s YEE working Working Plan 2010, which consists of pointed out the strong and weak points plan and the state of expenditures. Apart 20 projects, 15 have been already suc- The workshop was a part of the Envi- of YEE from their point of view and I from that, the visit was a good opportu- cessfully implemented, 4 projects are ronmental Audit project, which is a long nity for us to ask various questions and still running and 1 will be implemented term YEE project (running from Septem- to clarify many issues related to the grant in July 2011 (the Training Course: I can ber 2010 until March 2011). During the (reporting, financial, administrative, fi- lead! I can facilitate!). The second part Training Course in September the parti- nancing system, etc.). of the presentation was more detailed cipants were trained to act as multipliers and as we wanted to prepare it in an inte- who organise similar events themselves, In order to present YEE and our- resting way and avoid one person talking and thereby help to decrease the nega- selves, we prepared a short pre- about the whole programme, we divided tive impact on the environment of their sentation about the Secretariat and eve- up roles and each of us spoke about those own NGOs as well as the environmental ryone talked about his/her main res- projects s/he was most involved in. Thus impact of other local organizations and ponsibilities. We made it in a creative the description of each activity became companies using the initial project as an and more visual way (using pictures and more appealing and the presentation example. This workshop was the first colourful papers) as this is one of the more dynamic. one of such local events and it consisted

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would like to share some of these com- erating with the LLP, as in 2011 they de- Advisory Council on Youth ments with you. cided to narrow the focus to associations The strong points of YEE: variety strictly dealing with education and train- YEE’s External Relations Officer – Kyrylo – attended the Council of Europe’s of activities in the Work Plan; non-for- ing, which is unfortunately not 100% the Advisory Council on Youth in Budapest, Hungary this October. In this article he mal education; enthusiasm, activism and case within YEE. shares his experience with us. vital energy in our work; activities bring The agenda of the Advisory Council organizations, there were many disputes outputs (i.e. booklets published as a fol- I believe it was very important to re- on Youth meeting in Budapest was jam- and discussions within both the Advi- low up of a project). ceive both – the positive and the nega- packed full with issues for discussion – sory Council and the Joint Council. We The weak points of YEE: we should tive – feedback from outside because all to be discussed within 3 days! Among did succeed in reaching a consensus and reinforce the work of the network (have it brings more objectivity and helps us them, the participants needed to pay spe- established the following priorities: first more active MOs and more countries to see and know what to concentrate on cial attention to the following: changes of all, it was emphasized that the Euro- involved in our international projects); and improve in the future. All the com- within the structure of the Council of pean Union and its structures has been put more emphasis on marketing and ments and suggestions we received will Europe and the likely impact of these and will be the main partner for the advertising of our activities, workshops, be reflected on as they are of high im- changes on the youth sector; develop- Council of Europe. Evidence of this fact etc. that we organize and thus increase portance for our network and the im- ment of cooperation between the Council can be found in the Council’s budget: the number of people involved in our provement of YEE work in the future. of Europe, various international organi- almost 25% is allocated for develop- projects and their impact. We also need zations as well as with individual coun- ing these relations. Further evidence is to strengthen ‘education’ and ‘training Adriána Harnúšková tries; increasing the Council of Europe’s given by the fact that a special group of activities’ if we wish to continue coop- (YEE Secretary General) profile at both the national and interna- young experts has been created with the tional level; and celebration of the 40th aim of exploring the mechanisms, prin- anniversary of the Council of Europe. cipals and means of cooperation which already exist between the Council of Eu- The unique role the youth sector rope and the European Union and of pro- plays within today’s Council of Europe posing concrete steps for improving this was a key issue that ran through the cooperation. whole event. The Director of the Youth and Sport Directorate, Dr Ralf-René Profile and visibility at the local, na- Weingärtner, was the first to mention tional and international levels are impor- this issue. In his speech, he underlined tant issues for all international organisa- this unique role and expressed his confi- tions, and the Council of Europe is no dence about future involvement of young exception. It was therefore important for people in each stage of the Directorate’s the Advisory Council to discuss this is- work regardless of upcoming changes. sue, and indeed to examine its own profile.Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Bu- LLP monitoring visit. From the left: Ilona Pokorna and Guido di Fiore - the Lifelong Learning As for the question of cooperation dapest are undoubtedly excellent ways Program: Jean Monnet, the EACEA, Paulina, Michal and Gosia - YEE. between the CoE and various states and of increasing the Council of Europe’s

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visibility, but there is still more to do! on projects such as Human Rights and portance as an unique organization Janez Lenarcic, the current Director of Within the Advisory Council on Youth, Democracy. Particularly noteworthy for which had been tackling problems in the OSCE Office for Democratic Institu- the importance of further engagement YEE is that a quarter of the budget will the youth sphere with a right-based ap- tions and Human Rights, and Elvira Ko- with the YFJ (Youth Forum Jeunesse) be spent on a project called Living To- proach. vacs, member of PACE. They touched was highlighted, since this organisa- gether in Diverse Societies. The objec- Shortly afterwards the floor was taken upon issues such as the role of youth in tion has a unique platform of NGOs and tives of the project include “intercultural by Tine Radinja, the current President of democratic development and the promo- Youth Councils bringing together almost youth work in a multicultural environ- YFJ, who presented the progress report tion of human rights in Europe. 100 organizations across Europe. Indeed, ment” and “youth work for peace-build- for the period of 2009-2010. Work in small groups finished up an- the YJF elects 20 young people from ing, conflict prevention and transforma- Furthermore, working groups, con- other working day. The groups looked at amongst its member organizations to be tion” – all important topics for YEE. centrated on discussing Policy Papers on a range of thematic areas: representatives at the Advisory Council Global Governance and on Poverty and “Cooperation between the CoE and the on Youth. Of course, lots more happened dur- Young People, as well as on Position Pa- European Youth Forum”, “Voting from ing the meeting, and many more topics per on Youth in Action 2.0, were formed the age of 16”, “Convention on Youth The upcoming 40th anniversary of were discussed. I have tried to focus on out of the young delegates. The delegates Rights”, etc. the CoE was another important topic for the issues which I consider the most im- discussed the documents and proposed 20th November was an important consideration. Special groups were estab- portant. But, if you have any questions several changes/addenda, some of which day, with the election of the new YFJ lished to deal with this issue. Of course, concerning this very interesting and sig- were put forward to the GA. board. The new board will take up office certain topics discussed during the meet- nificant event, please contact me and I’ll Furthermore, the YFJ work plan for in January 2011. ing are significant for YEE. We estab- be glad to discuss them with you. the coming two years was reviewed and During the General Assembly, the lished the Advisory Council’s priorities adopted by the GA. The plenary session, European Youth Forum enlarged its for the 2012-2013 period and allocated Kyrylo Ivliev entitled “European Youth Dialog 2010”, “family” and welcomed three new or- the necessary budget for each priority. (YEE External Relations Officer) gave participants a unique opportunity ganisations: Children’s International The main part of the budget will be spent to ask questions to the invited speakers, Summer Villages, International Federa- including Ravil Safiullin, the current tion for Hard of Hearing Young People, The European Youth Forum Minister of Family, Youth and Sport of and Freedom Legality and Rights in Elects New Presidency Ukraine, Svetlana Tolstoukhova, the cur- Europe. rent Deputy Minister of Family, Youth and Sport of Ukraine, Yukie Mokuo, Nazineh Khalafyan From November 17th – 21th, Kiev Kyrylo Ivliev represented YEE. UNICEF Representative in Ukraine, (YEE Chairperson) welcomed around 250 delegates from On the opening day of the General National Youth Councils and interna- Assembly, the CoE Director of Youth Check web page of European Youth Forum to read more details tional non-governmental youth organiza- and Sport Directorate Dr. Ralf-René about the General Assembly and newly elected board: tions for the European Youth Forum Weingärtner gave a welcoming speech (YFJ) General Assembly (GA) 2010, in which he thanked all those who have www.youthforum.org section News which was hosted by the Ukrainian Youth taken an active part in the recent work Forum. Myself (Nazineh Khalafyan) and of the platform and emphasized its im-

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CEEweb Annual Meeting 2010 Participant’s comment: The Annual Meeting in Vác was my first experience with CEEweb activities. I en- The Annual Meeting of Central and to listen to various interesting lectures joyed the friendly atmosphere, beautiful venue and tasty Hungarian dishes, but in East European Web or Biodiversity about natural resources management and the first place the professional way of work and many new interesting information (CEEweb) took place in early Novem- efficiency, de-growth movement, land- I got, especially about efficient resource use and the need for resource capping. I am happy to share the information with YEE newsletter readers and I am look- ber 2010 in a small hotel located on the use initiatives, resource use in sustaina- ing forward to future cooperation between YEE and CEEweb. bank of the Danube, between the towns ble farming, and paradigm change. In the of Vác and Verőce, about 30 km north evening session participants discussed Michal Švec from Budapest, Hungary. how the Resource Cap Coalition could work, what its main goal should be and for each working group, CEEweb plans the report of the Supervisory Commit- how the cooperation will proceed. for capacity building and trainings, and tee. Everything went smoothly and the During the second day CEEweb mem- networking. The official part of the an- meeting actually ended even earlier than bers split into three working groups – nual meeting was opened in the early scheduled! Sustainable Tourism, Natura2000 and afternoon. The general assembly adopted Rural Development – and started to the working plan, voted on acceptance of Michal Švec plan the activities for the next year. The new CEEweb members and listened to (YEE Project Coordinator) most interesting for nature-lovers was surely the trip to the nature trail, which Official website of CEEweb: is built on wetlands right next to the Da- www.ceeweb.org nube river. After returning to the meeting Information about the AM in Vác venue, CEEweb Policy Office staff gave (including information about Resource Cap Coalition): presentations on networking, communi- www.ceeweb.org/aboutCEEWEB/annualmeetings/2010Vac/am_rcc_2010 cation and capacity building in 2010. The last day of the Annual Meeting was devoted to finalization of the work- The first day of the meeting was ing plan for 2011, especially the plans aimed at kicking off the Resource Cap Coalition. More than 50 participants – including CEEweb members as well as representatives of many other environmental organizations and institutions from all over Europe – gathered to discuss the topic of resource use and possibilities of resource capping in the near future. During the morning and afternoon sessions participants had the opportunity

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YEE Office Water Monitoring Trip under Bubovické waterfalls and stream to Czech Karst Loděnice in Svatý Jan).

World Water Monitoring Day YEE will also participate in water (WWMD) is a worldwide project, which monitoring in 2011. aims to raise awareness about protecting water resources by organizing thousands We hope that many of our Member of local water measurement activities Organisations will join us and help the all over the world. The project was WWMD project to reach its goal – one originally connected with Water million people monitoring water in 100 Monitoring Day, celebrated on 18th countries by 2012! For more informa- September, but from the last year the tion see the official WWMD website monitoring period was extended from or contact Michal in the YEE office. World Water Day (22nd March) until the During our trip we monitored four end of the year. dierent water bodies (river Berounka, Michal Švec Budeňský brook in Karlštejn, small lake (YEE Projects Coordinator) Due to the very simple and user friendly monitoring kits, everybody If you are interested to find out how clean the water in the Czech Karst can take part in the activities. Each kit nature protected area is, check out the results of our monitoring in contains all that you need to test pH, YEE has been participating in this the worldwide database and map at: turbidity and dissolved oxygen, as well project for a number of years. This year www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/About/Annual_Reports.html as to measure water and air temperature. we decided to yet again contribute some collected data to the worldwide database and so on 26th October we organized a short monitoring trip. As our destina- tion we chose one of the most beautiful places near Prague – Czech Karst.

We made a 10 km long trip from the village Karlštejn, where one of the most wonderful Czech castles is located, to the Malá Amerika (Small America) abandoned quarry, Bubovické waterfalls and picturesque Svatý Jan pod Skalou village, which has a famous pilgrim church.

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Water Monitoring in the Middle of Prague Training Course Innovate your life: Make it sustainable On Monday 15th November, I took Serbia, October 2010 children from my fishing club to measure the quality of water in the river In our everyday life we encounter young people with knowledge about Vltava, which flows through Prague. We terms such as: sustainability, sustain- sustainable alternatives – solutions of started with bird watching, spotting mal- able consumption and production. these problems – as well as the ability to lards, swans, bald coots and European Have we ever looked at ourselves in re- distinguish sustainable from unsustain- teals. During the winter they all gather lation to those definitions and wondered able alternatives and encourage them to to Prague, because the river here doesn’t how do we, as young environmental- become partners and multipliers in their freeze and Prague citizens like feeding ists, fit those terms into our own lives? communities as well as at pan-European them. With whole-grain bread and seeds As much as we can, we try to influence level. The idea for the training course we attracted numerous flocks of birds, other young people and make the world came many years ago from Michal including gulls (in non-traditional winter a better place to live, but do we give the Ruman, secretary general of YEE mem- feathering) and pigeons. When we had best example with our own way of life? ber organization Konopa and former spent enough time observing them and The training course “Innovate your chairperson of YEE board. Last year in our feed was almost all gone, we chose expect that the birds would be so insa- life: Make it sustainable” addresses the August, youth environmental organisa- a place for water monitoring. The place tiable. At the moment I came closer to main environmental threats - unsustain- tions and members of YEE gathered to we chose is where the dirty stream Botič the river with the sample collection jar, able production and consumption, pol- prepare activities for the coming year flows into the Vltava river. But we didn’t swans attacked me. Luckily, children lution and climate change. It provides and establish partnerships. This training were with me and lured the birds away course (TC) is one of the projects that with the rest of seeds. With this joint ef- were developed, as we found it could be fort we succeeded in taking a sample of useful for many young people from dif- water! ferent European countries. We meaured pH, turbidity, tem- The TC was carried out by the perature and concentration of dis- Young Researchers of Serbia, a mem- solved oxygen. How did it end up? ber organization of YEE, in partnership You can find the data in the world- with Konopa and the YEE office. From wide database on the WWMD website! 10th to 16th October, 25 participants from 7 neighbouring countries (Serbia, Irena Oupicová Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herze- (YEE Projects Officer) govina, Armenia, Croatia, Montenegro) and 4 EU countries (Czech Republic, Find out more on the World Water Monitoring Day website: Poland, Cyprus, Italy) developed theo- www.worldwatermonitoringday.org retical and practical competencies in order to become multipliers in the field of

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renewable resources and sustainability. ticipants were delighted with the sur- Participants exchanged experiences rounding environment and countryside, Participant’s comment: and ideas and created follow up projects. and contributed to its preservation by Our participation in the training course The activities were facilitated by the use planting trees on the last day of our was a great opportunity for all of us to meet and work with people from many of non-formal education methods – exer- training course. countries for one similar purpose. Our cises, workshops, study visits or simula- The experienced trainers worked to trainers helped us feel comfortable tion and outdoor games, partly using each get the best from the group and through from the very first day, and gave us other’s knowledge and skills (exchanging thoughtful workshops enabled the parti- many memorable days, full of knowl- good practice), partly coordinated by ex- cipants to first of all understand the idea edge. We all made new friendships, with whom we still communicate. We perienced trainers and facilitators from 6 of sustainability, and later to let them learned many things that helped us im- organisations from 5 different countries. develop it by themselves in the way that prove our way of life, with respect to The training course took place on the was relevant to them personally. Guest our planet. We thank our trainers and slopes of Rtanj, a beautiful mountain speakers, experts in their areas of study, the other participants that made all in Eastern Serbia, where one can find conducted really interesting workshops those days even more interesting and funny. a lot of examples both of sustainability on subjects such as permaculture, eco- and unsustainable production and use logical footprinting, and renewable ener- Eleni Papavarnava, Cyprus of resources. It made a good point for gy sources. Through practical activities, the participants to see that everything is participants learned how to construct a not black and white, and that this topic solar cooker, solar oven and how to build requires a very delicate approach. Par- a simple compost bin. Participant’s comment: In my role as a project coordinator, It was my second time I participated in an international TC, and comparing it with the and all round organiser, I can say that it other one I had three months ago, in Serbia there was a huge group (different people from different cultures and background), which I liked very much. It was a nice “cli- was a pleasure to work and spend time mate” during the whole week. I found quite interesting all the workshops and especially with such good and professional trainers the days in which we had to learn by practice (e.g. solar oven and stove), so I’d suggest and dedicated participants, even when more practical activities, because I think they are more effective in order not to forget we did have challenges to overcome. I and always remember the details. I loved visiting the cave, as we are environmental- hope that all of them brought good mem- ists who love the nature, and I’d appreciate more outdoor activities. I’d like to thank everyone, especially the trainers for being so professional, that I learned so much and ories, knowledge and skills back home, enjoyed Serbia. and that, except for positive effect to environment, one of the main outcomes of Suada Mansuku, Albania this training will be future cooperation in this field and lifelong friendship among all of us. Find out more about TC ‘Innovate your life: Make it sustainable’ at YEE website: Vladimir Novakovic www.yeenet.eu in the section YEE completed projects (Young Researchers of Serbia)

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Healthy Food Campaign Water in Pictures

A food system is the link between to answer such questions when food From the beginning of July to the end agriculture, the food supply chain, and comes in packages from far away. of October 2010, YEE gathered pho- nutrition. It starts with healthy soils and Through our ‘Healthy Food tographs of people drinking from fresh ends with healthy bodies. The health of Campaign’ we aim to show you that water sources for the exhibition project our land and the sustainability of our eating habits matter. In our online cam- Water – Its Importance in Pictures. food system determine the health of paign we encourage you to change We collected more than 100 photos our bodies. some eating habits by giving examples from Albania, Armenia, Canada, Czech Our food system is often organized of how you can eat in a more healthy Republic, Georgia, Slovakia, USA and in a way that does not provide safety, way and thus positively influence your other countries. Forty selected photos sustainability, or health. We may not be natural surrounding at the same time. were printed in big format and are going aware of problems of our food system There are many ways how each to be displayed at the end of this year in when the things we eat are produced far of us can contribute to Prague, Tirana and Yerevan. The main away. Still, we have to ask questions. Is improvement of the environmental goal of this exhibition is to point out If you are interested in hosting the agriculture sustainable? Does the farmer situation. Why not by paying more the value of drinking water and raise exhibition in your town, city, coun- use compost or chemicals? It is difficult attention to what we eat? awareness about the importance of wa- try, let us know and we will arrange the ter in general. Famous quotations about shipping of photographs and help you to Check more about Healthy Food Campaign on our webpage: water and texts reviewing the water situ- organize and promote it. The deadline www.yeenet.eu section Campaigns ation in Albania, Armenia and the Czech for submitting photos for the exhibition Republic will accompany the pictures. was the end of October. However, you Exhitions will be opened with speech can still contribute to our photo galleries from experts on water treatment and wa- by sending us photos of people drinking ter protection. from fresh water sources. Let our gallery grow and share with us your nice pictures of places where drinking water flows!

More information about the project, the exhibition calendar and all collected photos can be found at:

www.sunnycampaign.net

18 19 MO’s PROJECTS MO’s PROJECTS An entertaining way to deliver How do we work? environmental education messages from Nature Guides Group is a substruc- EDEN center Nature Guides Group ture of EDEN Environmental Educa- tion work sector. The group has one Did you know that a Nature Guides young students and graduates with differ- coordinator who works in EDEN. They Group has existed in Albania since ent educational backgrounds. Yes, even do weekly coordination meetings in the 2005? though at the beginning having different EDEN office and monthly or bimonthly In the EDEN (Environmental center backgrounds was thought to be an obsta- field visits to improve their itineraries for Development, Education and Net- cle, nowadays we see it as strength; they and discover new ones. At the end they working) center, for the first time in Al- complement each other and add useful map each itinerary, gather all the infor- bania, a group such as this was set up to information from all spheres of life. This mation available for the area, and pick EDEN Center provide guides for nature activities. The is very important during guided tours in information and environmental educa- main goal of our group is to increase en- nature. Nature Guides Group is not only tion games according to target groups. vironmental awareness among differ- focused on providing information on the The center also possesses a wide range ent target groups through offering nature environmental and touristic values of of teaching materials that they provide guides and the promotion of ecotourism places, but also on providing informa- these guides with. area is flat and the routes are relatively among other things. If you love nature tion on existing management problems Nature Guides Group have gained wide with amazing landscape between and want to discover it with all your and appropriate ways of using these experience through training, youth ac- the largest wetland system in the coun- senses then our group is ready for you! areas based on the principles of sustain- tivities, exchange activities within the try, dense forest pine and the coast. With This group currently consists of 15 able development. country and abroad. Also the group itself the opportunity from a project that EDEN provides trainings and coaching for local center is implementing, young people in groups of young people. In its mission, the area will receive training on how to the group of guides aims to continue fur- provide nature guides to visitors and will ther with the distribution of their experi- test the new routes. Also there is the pos- ence through trainings for the establish- sibility to produce a tourist guidebook of ment of new local nature guide groups the area which will be distributed in the and increasing the capacities of the exist- main tourist agencies. ing ones. This investment will have a positive Currently, the group is developing its impact not only on promoting sustaina- newest itinerary, the ninth of them all, in ble tourism in the area but also on socio- the area of Divjakë-Karavasta National economic development by promoting Park, which is located in Middle West of guiding as a profitable activity. Albania. Apart from developing the itin- EDEN center Nature Guides Group is eraries the group will map tourist routes motivated and believes that our activities which will later serve as routes for hik- are really helpful for the community. The

EDEN Center ers and cyclist visitors. The terrain in this routes that we define are not included

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good opportunities to promote hiking as Environmental classes for children tourism at weekends in the region that in Vanadzor, Armenia contains about 1/3 of the country popu- lation. environmental problems, which had been If you believe in the same philoso- the initial scope of these classes. phy, please spread these kind of activi- Class attendance at the social centre ties in your place, initiate a movement is voluntary so it is important to make that links humanity with nature and if the classes as interactive as possible so you ever pass through Albania we invite the children have fun while also learn- you to enjoy the natural beauties of the ing something. Often we begin a session country in the company of Nature Guides with a short cartoon or movie relevant to Group of EDEN Center. the theme of the class. After the intro- EDEN Center duction there is an explanation about the in any existing tourist guides and they Endrit Shima subject. During this explanation objects, promote hiking as a sustainable way of (EDEN Center, Albania) drawings and pictures are used as much tourism development. Apart from that, as possible to make the things which are Nature Guides’ work is also focused on Since the beginning of October 2010 explained as clear as possible. This is exploration and mapping of interesting [email protected] we have been organizing weekly envi- important for keeping the children en- itineraries that are located near the capi- www.eden-al.org ronmental classes for children of various gaged and because it serves as an aid for tal, Tirana. This is thought to create very ages at the social services centre in Va- the volunteer who translates the explana- nadzor, Armenia. tion from English to Armenian. The ex- During our first encounter with the planation is usually followed by a game children it became clear that their knowl- or another interactive activity which edge about the environment was very limited. When we asked them which environmental problems they knew about the only issue they mentioned was that it is bad to drop litter. However, they didn’t have any idea why it is bad to do this. Since this demonstrated that they had basic knowledge about the environment it was decided to teach them basic things about plants, animals, ecosystems, etc. and to make them aware of the importance of the environment for

EDEN Center our daily lives instead of talking about

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cal characteristics of specific animals - teers took a step towards answering these dren aged 10-15 years old, and also this clarified some of the general charac- questions by organizing in an eco-week spoke to local shop owners to encour- teristics of the animal groups which were initiative in Yerevan, Armenia. The age them to give out fewer plastic bags discussed earlier. initiative took place from 15th – 21st to their customers or at least not to offer During a class about ecosystems the November 2010, and FYCA expressed bags for small items such as cigarettes children had to compose a circle of life its shared concern about ecological and chewing gum. using cards with images of animals, challenges. Volunteers informed local residents plants, etc. which made the dependence The volunteers worked in different ar- about how they can play their part dur- of one species on an other visual. eas of the city to raise awareness about ing the eco-week by collecting rubbish During a class about autumn the chil- climate change amongst the general in their neighborhood and by joining the dren made leaf prints after they were public with the goal of encouraging peo- big clean-up day on 19th November. given an explanation for why the leaves ple to take concerted action to protect the During that day the participants col- stimulates the children to process the in- fall in autumn. The fact that the classes environment by using resources more ef- lected rubbish, such as glass, paper, formation provided during the explana- are interactive does not only make them fectively, recycling and reducing the use organic waste or plastic, around Len- tion. For example, during a class about more fun to attend for the children, it also of harmful materials such as plastic. ingradyan Street and Sebastia Street in plants and their importance for us, the helps them to remember what they were The volunteers visited schools and Yerevan. The clean-up activities contin- children planted flower bulbs in the gar- doing. This increases the probability that gave presentations and workshops about ued the next day with rubbish collection den of the social center. they truly learned something important. recycling and waste reduction, for chil- in Hrazdan Gorge and at the Yerevan They really enjoyed planting the bulbs Botanical Garden. and maybe they will be reminded about An Lambert A big clean-up also took place in the the things they learned about plants when (EVS at Stepanavan Youth Center, Yerablur area, which is located on a hill- the flowers emerge in spring next year. active at Zangak Social Services Centre, top on the outskirts of Yerevan. During During a class about the different animal Armenia) this activity we were joined by volun- groups the children mimicked some typi- teers from other organisations, and the eco-week was brought to an end with presentations on public awareness of en- Eco-Week Initiative vironmental issues. by the Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia Friends: be planet-loving and take care of your surroundings. This way you are taking care of If a person collects garbage a whole vironmental damage to our planet. yourself! day, our city will be clean. What do you think? Why do global Humankind uses chemicals, destroys warming and ozone layer depletion con- Nazineh Khalafyan the ozone layer, exhausts natural re- tinue to be such big problems? (FYCA, Armenia sources and upsets the earth’s ecological The Federation of Youth Clubs of YEE Chairperson) balance. All these cause devastating en- Armenia (FYCA) with its EVS volun-

24 25 MO’s PROJECTS MO’s PROJECTS The quiet, beautiful winter

“Next winter comes slowly, pale mea- sounds, sights and other keys to the in- gre and old. First trembling with age, credible biodiversity around us. If we are and then, quivering with cold”. able to provide people with meaningful This is how winter was portrayed in (maybe even unforgettable) experi- Henry Purcell’s semi-opera The Fairy ences in nature, they will have a life- Queen. To many of us trekkers, however, long personal reason to work towards a winter is neither weak nor uninspiring. world that values more than just human At least in the northern latitudes, some concerns. consider it to be the best time of the year for enjoying nature. Now, as the darkest days of the year approach, it is the perfect time for a wil- The Nature League The Nature League is a Finnish derness excursion. Each year, just after youth organization that, among other Christmas, we pack our skis and a large phere completely different from typical participants who are inexperienced things, arranges nature camps, treks and tent with an iron stove and head out to Finnish woodlands. trekkers, some of whom might not even excursions. We try to focus on enabling snowy Eastern Finland. The location, have skied before. Now, they’re enjoy- children and youth to experience nature in addition to being far from so-called As I already mentioned, this is pretty ing three days in the middle of the first hand – not red in tooth and claw, civilization, should always feature old- much the darkest time of the year. The wilderness, in temperatures that might like Tennyson would have it, but full of growth forests – which have an atmos- sun is above the horizon for approxi- drop as low as -30 degrees Celsius. And mately five hours a day, so you are going most of them love it. to have to make good use of that short time. You wake up – it’s dark – ski and Antti Salovaara enjoy the forests and marshlands for a (Luonto-Liitto - The Nature League, few hours, and soon it’s dark again. Finland)

It is simply an amazing, solemnly quiet time to be outdoors, since for the biggest part of the day, most of nature is completely silent. Short dark days mean plenty of time to sit around the fire, discussing observations made during the The Nature League day and getting to know each other.

A trip like this might sound demand-

The Nature League ing or difficult, but each year we have

26 27 OPINIONS OPINIONS

Vegetarianism on the menu for 2011? Solutions So what is the answer? Should we Are you thinking about how to be more environmentally friendly in 2011? Maybe all stop eating meat? And if we stop eat- your dinner plate is the place to start… ing meat, shouldn’t we stop eating dairy and other animal products too? Different As the days become ever shorter, Let us take a look at some of the opinions abound, but many specialists ar- and gusts of snow greet many of us as facts. gue that the best approach is for people to we leave our homes in the morning, our • Greenhouse gas emissions: Ac- reduce the amount of meat they consume. minds turn to the upcoming festive holi- cording to the United Nations’ Food and They argue that a world without meat is days. And whether you are British and Agriculture Organisation meat produc- not possible – farm animals play an im- dreaming of Christmas pudding, Danish tion is responsible for almost 1/5 of the portant role in our eco-system too, and in and salivating at the prospect of pork, or world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This many poor countries an animal not only a Czech who cannot wait for their serving is not only because of the emissions cre- provides families with necessary nutri- www.sxc.hu of carp, food is likely to be on your mind. ated during the production of animal tion, but can also be an important source So, since you are already thinking about feed, but also because of the fact that of income. food, now is the perfect time to look at plant-eating animals – especially cows But many experts do agree that reduc- diet from an environmental angle. – emit methane. And methane contrib- ing our meat consumption is essential. By New Year’s resolution to not eat meat utes to global warming even more than cutting out some meat from our diets we one day a week? Go online, find an in- So, here is the million dollar ques- carbon dioxide. can reduce the kind of intensive farming teresting vegetarian recipe, experiment in tion: did you know that reducing your • Deforestation: As much as 70% of which has a negative impact on the envi- the kitchen, or perhaps ask a vegetarian consumption of meat is one of the most deforestation in the Amazon in Brazil ronment. friend to cook for you. You never know, environmentally friendly decisions a has been carried out to produce pasture Does reducing the amount of meat you might like it so much you never turn person can make? land for animals. you eat sound difficult? Unappealing? back! • Damage to water systems: Heavy Well, campaigners recommend that peo- use of fertilisers which contain nitrogen ple begin by having one meat free day Gemma Tracey can cause damage to the eco-systems in each week. So, how about making it your (YEE Publications Officer) our lakes and rivers (if you want to find out more about this then simply type the Sources: word “eutrophication” into Google!). Al- • Juliette Jowit, UN says eat less meat to curb global warming, The Guardian, lison Leach, an American environmental September 2008, scientist, calculated that if all the staff http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink and students at her university stopped • Bob Holmes, Veggieworld: Why eating greens won’t save the planet, New eating meat then they could reduce the Scientist, July 2010, amount of nitrogen they release into the http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727691.200-veggieworld-why-eating- environment by 29%. greens-wont-save-the-planet.html?page=1

www.sxc.hu

28 29 OPINIONS OPINIONS

Opinions on eating meat after discussions about its influence on Michal, Czech Republic the environment. But I am a scientist, so What do young people think about eating meat? What are the reasons for becoming I believe only researches and my own Are you a vegetarian, vegan or omni- a vegetarian? We asked some YEE fans to share with us their own dietary decisions. observations, not simply arguments from vore? mouths of other people. Anybody can say I am not actually a real vegetarian, be- Please be aware that these are all personal opinions, and do not represent the views whatever! I think it is dangerous just to cause from time to time I eat fish and of YEE! If you have an opinion on this issue please write to us and we will try to believe what other people say, instead very rarely (perhaps once a year) organic include your viewpoint in the next Newsletter. we should look to verify the information meat. online using good scientific sources. So, Anne, Germany don’t like the taste of it too much either. yes, I have considered it but I have not How long have you been a vegetarian? Moreover it would disgust me to have to yet found enough verified arguments for I started with my pseudovegetarian diet Are you a vegetarian, vegan or touch and prepare raw meat. becoming vegetarian. in autumn 2005, so I have already been omnivore? semi-vegetarian for more than 5 years. Vegetarian Do you ever try to persuade friends Do you think you might become veg- and family members to become vegetarian or vegan in the future? What were the reasons for deciding to How long have you been a vegetarian? etarian? Which points do you use to If I had to, I might. For example, if there become a vegetarian? More than 8 years. support your argument? was only a small amount of meat availa- Mainly ethical reasons. For the long time, It is healthier and cheaper, it is more crea- ble I would eat it only twice or three times I have been very dissatisfied and also What were your reasons for deciding tive and it DOES make you full. a month and I think I would be OK. But quite sad about animal treatment in big to become a vegetarian? children and adolescents need 20 times “meat factories”. Just after I became a We never ate much meat in my family Do you ever face any challenges be- more essential amino acids than adults vegetarian I found out many more good, so I am not really accustomed to it and I cause of your diet? and they can gain this only from meat. i.e. environmental reasons, which con- In Spain I had difficulties and in small firmed that I had made – from a personal villages I usually do, too. And problems Do you have any vegetarian/vegan point of view – the right decision. arise when I visit my grandparents! friends? Do they try to persuade you to change your diet? What arguments Do you ever try to persuade friends and Irena, Czech Republic do they use? family members to become vegetarian/ Yes, some people I know have tried to vegan? If so, which points do you use Are you a vegetarian, vegan or omni- persuade me to give up meet, using ar- to support your argument? vore? guments about animal welfare and green- No. I don’t like persuading people to do I am an omnivore. house gas emissions. Personally, I think what I think is good. I think the best way the most important thing people need to to show them that it is reasonable not to Have you ever considered becoming a do is ensure they eat a healthy diet, in- eat meat is just to serve as a good exam- vegetarian or vegan? cluding getting enough proteins. I agree ple and not to be a “conflict” vegetarian Of course I considered, or at least I that we could eat less meat – two or three (people don’t really like zealous activ- www.sxc.hu thought about it, especially during and times a week is probably enough ism). Only when I am laughed at for my

30 31 OPINIONS OPINIONS

vegetarian attitude do I try to explain consideration? When we are ill we need to eat plants. In fact, I am not proud of that vegetarian food is not only healthy, vaccines: some of these are prepared with eating at all, I just have to do it! If some- but also ethical and environmentally bacteria and viruses (small living beings); one doesn’t like meat that’s fine with me: friendly. aren’t they important? Some plants re- eat what you want, and let me eat what lease the oxygen we need to breathe: why I want. If you are concerned about ani- Do you ever face any challenges be- do we eat the living beings that allow us mal suffering then point your fingers at cause of your diet (e.g. difficulty find- to live? the slaughterhouses! Animals should ing tasty food in restaurants)? Well, considering the facts, from an die without pain. Indeed, animals being It is not such a big problem in Prague or environmental point of view, we should slaughtered without undue pain is not www.sxc.hu other cities, but very often in Czech coun- only eat animals because plants are too only desirable, and possible, but also le- tryside I have problems to find something precious! Animals release carbon dioxide gally obligatory in many countries. on the menu I can eat. The only “vege- that will contribute to the greenhouse ef- I eat animals, plants, fungi and more tarian” meal in Czech village and small fect! We should stop these pollution ma- because I respect them all. They are all towns restaurants is usually fried cheese Don’t worry, I’m not going to dwell on chines by eating them! And if you want important to me, at least they keep feed- with ham! And I experienced many em- the fact that it’s difficult (if not impos- flesh from the most environmental un- ing me year after year and I’m feeling barrassing situations when visiting my sible) to get the necessary nutrients for friendly animal then eat your own kind! fine. I don’t disagree with vegetarianism friends’ families. The majority of Czechs our health without meat, nor on the fact Humans! Let’s promote cannibalism!? but I don’t necessarily think that vegetar- hold the opinion that a meal without meat that some animals experience extreme Maybe that will be an unpopular idea… ians are better friends of the environment is not a food at all. They are so used to suffering before we can consume them. But other non-human animals are part because of their eating habits. preparing meat meals that they simply What I would actually like to do here is to of an ecosystem that would be destroyed I encourage you to think not only don’t know what to cook when I come present another point of view: what about with its absence, and then biodiversity is about animals, but about plants. Think for lunch or dinner. the suffering of plants!? reduced, then mass extinctions will come about their needs, but also our needs of I know science cannot prove plants and then mankind is doomed to oblivi- them. Who needs whom more? It’s a “Yes I eat cow, I’m not can “feel” but we humans feel! I never on! Unless bacteria will have remember complicated question… proud!” hear any vegetarians expressing concern things in the future, of course. Bacteria as Paulo de Morais about the injuries made to plants! Let’s a group are, more or less, imperishable. OPE, Portugal be honest: humans, animals and plants And why don’t we feed on bacteria? Ac- Paulo de Morais from OPE shares his are all living beings. Should we just re- tually we do but since they are so small very personal opinion about his diet. spect animals more than plants because we can’t chew on them... But they reach they “are closer to us” (genetically speak- our stomach, that’s for sure! Why eat meat? This question can of- ing), because they have a similar internal So I eat meat. I eat plants. But I also love ten lead to an extreme discussion. Here anatomy to human (well, they also have nature.

is my – very personal – opinion on the a similar external anatomy to us humans, Why do some vegans point their fin- www.sxc.hu matter. but I don’t want to anyone’s hurt feel- ger to me and ask ‘Are you proud to con- Why continue to make animals suffer ings...) and because they make sounds? tribute to animal suffering?’. I eat cow, if we can survive without eating meat? Perhaps all living beings deserve our I’m not proud! But I am even less proud

32 33 BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW

‘I love my World’ For people working with children and how to show nature to others youth it is important to get new inspira- tions for activities – sometimes we tend control it. During the Training Course to repeat activities we know well but it is ‘Forest – Welcome Home’ we estab- always good to extend our ‘box of tools’ lished a special ‘library’ where partici- with new activities, games, methods. This www.wholeland.org.uk pants were able to exchange the books book can provide a lot of inspiration for that they brought with them. In this way I our activities in the natural world. The received a book called ‘I love my World’ description of every activity has a spe- from the trainer Richard Irvine. I started cific structure: “ready, get set, go” and it to read it after the Training Course and shows how preparation and reflection are in this way the project was prolonged – I important for the educational value of the am still continuing to learn new things activity. YEE’s latest booklet ‘Games for on the topic of environmental education. This book is also so rich and full be- Nature’ where we gathered many of en- The sub-title of the book is: “Bush- cause it is based on real experience: the vironmental education games. We tried craft, Environmental Art, Nature Aware- experience of a person that has done to provide the inspiration about ‘what’ ness and Outdoor Play Activities for Par- much work over many years with children you can do with young people in nature. ents, Forest School Leaders, Teachers, in nature and tested out all the activities If you want to discover more activi- Play Rangers, Aunties and Uncles… In in the book many times. Chris Holland’s ties and go deeper, to know ‘why’, ‘how’ fact anyone with a love of our world who experience and the way he approaches and ‘what for’ – read the book from Chris spends time outdoors and enjoys sharing his work can teach a lot us all, especially Holland ‘I love my World’. it with others”. So this is a book for all those of us who are young and eager to I would like to recommend to all of us, not only for professional environ- help others to discover nature. Gosia Zubowicz YEE-ers a book called I love my World. mental educators but for all people that I hope you are reading and using (YEE Main Coordinator) Mentoring play in nature, for our sus- are willing to help children to discover tainable future, by Chris Holland. YEE nature in a creative way. I showed the To get the book and learn more check: aims to “encourage all that might increase book to my friends and each of them ilovemyworld.info and www.wholeland.org.uk the knowledge, understanding and ap- found something inside, which was very preciation of nature” and this book can special for them. ‘I like the part when give you many new ideas about how to the author describes how you can teach “This book is far beyond a mere collection of outdoor learning activities. spread our passion for nature. children to use sharp tools in a safe way. Chris Holland takes a holistic view of our current global environmental cri- Something that I really enjoy during I agree that’s it’s better to show how to sis and presents a heartfelt, as well as intellectual, response to it by taking YEE projects is the exchange among use it than to forbid it.’ – said one friend. our young people outside to learn to play and play to learn. It tackles the participants – this is sometimes initiated Another liked creative workshops – like head, heart and hands of outdoor environmental education and prompted me and encouraged by organizers but often making ‘blobsters’ from clay and other to re-evaluate not just what I do as an outdoor educator but why and how.” it is so rich that nobody can predict or natural materials. Richard Irvine, The Wembworthy Centre

34 35 BOOK REVIEW CALL FOR PARTNERS Call for Partners Training course: Tourism for Nature

Date: 21-26 September 2011 Place: Ohrid, Macedonia Activity type: Training course For participants from: EU countries, Albania, Macedonia Target group: Youth active in environmental protection, 2 (3) participants in the age of 18-35 from each organization, especially from organizations active in the field of sustainable tourism Contact person: Gjoko Zoroski, [email protected] If you would like to participate in the project, please contact us till 15th January 2011. www.wholeland.org.uk Brief description: ichica National Park, Hydrobiological Tourism is one of the largest glo- Institute in Ohrid), supported by the best The latest YEE publication: bal industries, which can bring benefits practices from experts in this field, will ‘Games for Nature. Environmental to local communities. But it can also give the participants directions how to education through the eyes of young people’ threaten resources by destroying habitat, improve their advocacy for sustainable is a follow-up publication to the youth disturbing wildlife, having negative im- tourism in their geographical fields of exchange ‘Learning from each other - games pact on water quality an threaten local work and how to become multipliers of of environmental education’ that took place in communities by crowding and over- gained knowledge in their organizations Poland in September and was organised by our development. as well as home countries. Member Organisation OA PTTK from Poland The training course will show the and YEE. The idea for this booklet was to participants the practical education for Practical information: gather together the games that were presented sustainability, especially for sustainable • Participants will cover only 30% of during the youth exchange, as well as some use of tourism potentials of lakes and their travel costs more sent in by member organisations, and national parks. Interactive workshops, • No participation fee create a toolkit where people can find discussions, brainstorming, practical • Accommodation and food is covered inspiration for their work sessions and site visits (Ohrid Lake, Gal- by the organiser with children in nature.

Download ‘Games for Nature’ here: www.yeenet.eu section Publications Soon Russian version of ‘Games for Nature‘ www.sxc.hu

36 37

Winter pictures from our members

From everyone here in the YEE office in Prague we would like to wish you a warm and peaceful holiday season surrounded by your family and friends.

We also hope that you will find some time to get outside,

brave the cold weather and appreciate Luonto Liitto

the beauty of nature in winter. Matthew Giordmaina

May the New Year open the gate of new opportunities and ideas for you!

Together let’s make 2011 as environmentally friendly as we can!

YEE secretariat Oro Verde We hope to see you during YEE actions in 2011! Irena Oupicová Paulina Piasecka Paulina Piasecka

38 39 Publication of Youth and Environment Europe

YEE Ofﬁ ce Toulcuv Dvur Kubatova 1/32 102 00 Praha 10 - Hostivar Czech Republic

www.yeenet.eu [email protected]

YEE Newsletter was published with the financial support of the European Youth Foundation and Lifelong Learning Program.

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reﬂ ects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”