“EC+10 Celebrations Report” Earth Charter International Secretariat 2011 This document presents the summary of the EC+10 celebrations held in 2010. It contains brief descriptions of all events, as well as an outline of the Communications Campaign created to promote the events and the Earth Charter. The report concludes with key recommendations for future activities. EC+10 Events All over the world, events both large and small were organized during 2010 to celebrate the Earth Charter’s 10th anniversary. Their purpose was to advance the Mission, Vision, and Goals of the Earth Charter Initiative. Specifically, the events focused on: raising awareness and promoting understanding of the Earth Charter; promoting dialogue, collaboration and action for a sustainable future; sharing experiences; and developing goals and objectives for the next decade. The theme and slogan for the celebrations were created in consultation with a number of individuals. Theme: Dialogue, Collaboration and Action for a Sustainable Future. Slogan: It starts with one! A communication campaign and materials were produced with this slogan. Information on this campaign, as well as the most notable gatherings and activities among the EC+10 efforts, are presented below. A collection of pictures from these events can be found in the Earth Charter+10 Picasa album. The following table summarizes the events organized in 2010; more details are presented below. APRIL Mexico: Launch of EC+10 year in Guanajuato with simultaneous local gatherings. 21-24 April. Brazil: EC+10 and Earth Day celebrations at UMAPAZ , Nigeria: Youth event in Abuja Sao Paulo Norway: Meeting of the Oslo Ethics and Leadership Belarus: EC+10 campaign in Minsk Group of Tekna Costa Rica: National University Italy: Conference in Fano, Urbino Ecuador: Museums Foundation in Quito Peru: Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Peruvian Kyrgyzstan: Kizilkiya Municipality headquarters, jointly with the National Major University of San Marcos and Earth Charter MAY Russia: EC+10 meeting at Presidential Center for Public Initiatives, Moscow. 6-8 May. Brazil: Seeds of Change exhibition at UMAPAZ, Sao Paulo. 20 May. United States: EC + 10 Dinner at Michael Murphy Gallery M, Florida. 26 May. JUNE Indonesia: EC+10 and Environment Day, Jakarta Convention Center. 5 June. The Netherlands: Major event EC+10 event at Peace Palace, The Hague. 28-29 June. SEPTEMBER Japan: ESD and EC+10 Conference, at Rikkyo (St. Paul) University. 10 September. Australia: The Australia-Pacific Earth Charter Festival in Brisbane. 16-20 September. Switzerland: Booth at Lifefair, Zurich. 24-26 September. OCTOBER Taiwan-China: Conference: Ancient Wisdom, Sustainable Futures, Taitung. 12-15 October. Spain: Open event with 3000 participants at Sports Palace, Madrid. 24 October. NOVEMBER India: Major event at CEE campus, Ahmedabad. 1-3 November. United States: Earth Charter +10 week at Florida Gulf Coast University. 1-5 November. Also, “Local Action for a Sustainable Future,” at the University of Pennsylvania. 7 November. Jordan: EC+10 for Middle East and North Africa region, Dead Sea. 23-24 November. APRIL ―We are also celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Earth Charter Initiative, which is a document Mexico and a call for action, which is more relevant today than ever.‖ The worldwide EC+10 celebrations began in Mexico, where the Ministry of Environment and At the same occasion, Mr. Martínez Soliman, UN Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the Resident Coordinator for Mexico, stated: University of Guanajuato organized the opening celebratory event on 21 – 24 April. ―As Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Mexico, it is my privilege to attend the celebration A number of Earth Charter representatives and of the International Day of Mother Earth, this year Mexican academic and social leaders were in particular, in the setting of the Earth Charter‘s present, including: Steven Rockefeller, Co-Chair tenth anniversary.‖ of the Earth Charter International Council; Council Members Rick Clugston and Brendan Mackey; ―We feel proud that the Government of Mexico has and Peter Corcoran, of the Florida Gulf Coast included the Charter‘s initiative in its sustainable University. Mr. Rockefeller delivered a keynote development agenda. This document, which is the address on the Earth Charter and Human Rights, result of one of the most extensive participatory while Mr. Mackey made a presentation on Ethics processes for drawing up an international and Climate Change. Several youth groups and declaration, embraces a true endeavor to create an leaders shared their experiences with the Earth accord among peoples aimed at promoting a new Charter. sense of well-being, development, and justice in the framework of urgent challenges caused by climate change and the growing strain on ecosystems and natural resources on which every human being depends.‖ On 22 April, the Mayor of the City of Guanajuato, a representative from the Governor of the State of Guanajuato and the Rector of the University of Guanajuato hosted a celebration of Earth Day, together with a celebration of the 10th On 21 April, the President of Mexico, Felipe anniversary of the launch of the Earth Charter, at Calderon celebrated Mother Earth’s International the City Hall in Guanajuato. Day in Veracruz and referred to the Earth Charter In similar events taking place simultaneously all in his speech several times, saying: throughout Mexico, over 26,000 people ―The International Day of Mother Earth was participated in local Earth Day and EC+10 established by the United Nations to remind all of celebrations. us around the world of our duty to care and respect our natural wealth. “EC+10 Celebrations Report” Brazil came with a tag containing instructions on how to plant it, along with the four main principles of In Sao Paulo, the Earth Day celebration (22 April) the Earth Charter. took place at UMAPAZ (Open University for the Environment and a Culture of Peace), with the In another Brazilian city, Recife, it was a day to presence of the City Secretary of Green and act and breath slowly in solidarity with the bio- Environment, Eduardo Jorge, the Mayor energy, seeking to harmonize forces and Gilberto Kassab, and Cristina Moreno, stimulate the recycling of daily attitudes. representative for the Earth Charter Initiative. Children from the AMECON-CEJOLI NGO in the Americanópolis district in São Paulo participated in several of the activities, including the planting of trees at the Ibirapuera Park, as well as listening to stories from the writer Fábio Lisboa. The hoisting of the following flags was carried out at the entrance of UMAPAZ: from the Municipality of São Paulo, by the Deputy mayor Thanks to EcoCELPE there was a handcraft of Villa Mariana, Manoel Antonio da Silva workshop, with materials based on the 3R Araújo; the Brazilian flag, by the Secretary of (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) philosophy. It was a day Environment, Eduardo Jorge; and the Earth flag to put in practice the concept of solidarity, as well by the Mayor Gilberto Kassab, with the presence as time for reflection and mobilization towards of the students of the third group of the Earth the preservation of the planet. Charter in Action. In Florianópolis, Harmonia na Terra Institute, in The event was attended by local educators and collaboration with an association called Lar social leaders. They took a moment to walk Recanto do Carinho, proposed a mural painting, without shoes and feel the soil that keeps them involving youth, based on the Earth Charter safe, rooted and connected to each other principles, with the activity coordinated by through the web of life. Samuel Casal, a famous artist that works in close alliance with the institute. Costa Rica By working together on this effort, the partners aspired to give joy to and increase the self- In Costa Rica, the Earth Charter 10th Anniversary esteem of HIV/AIDS affected people. In addition, celebration was also held onEarth Day (22 April). 150 native trees from Mata Atlântica were It was organized by the National University of distributed within the community. Each tree Costa Rica (UNA), a longtime supporter of the Page 4 “EC+10 Celebrations Report” Earth Charter Initiative. The Rector of UNA at the no one ever recognizes those who serve the time, Mr. Olman Segura, and other authorities others‖. from the University participated in this event. Thirteen students from UNA's campuses around One of the highlights was the official launch of the country were chosen to receive the 2010 EC UNA’s Earth Charter Network, involving Student Award. The awards were granted at the professors and staff already using the EC. So far, closing of the event. The students were very 22 professors, administrative staff, and students moved, expressing their great joy in being have joined this network. The goal is to further publicly recognized for their efforts. expand the UNA Earth Charter Network as rapidly as possible. Italy The Faculty of Education presented two projects created with the Earth Charter: educational Also in April, an event titled "Earth Charter and material that helps secondary school teachers to Biodiversity: Between Ethics, Religion and incorporate the Earth Charter in different Science" was organized by EC Affiliate subjects; and a university study programme for Federazione Nazionale Pro Natura, along with science teachers who have not yet completed presenters from several Italian universities. It was their specializations. funded by the Marche Region, the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, and the Municipality of Fano, together with the "Casa Archelei" Environmental Education Center, the "G Torelli" Scientific Secondary School from Fano, and the "G.Vico" Social-Physical-Pedagogical Secondary School from Sulmona. Kyrgyzstan This year, the Earth Charter Affiliate in Kyrgyzstan The Costa Rican EC+10 celebrations were also the - the Sunny Country Social Fund - held their official launching point for the Earth Charter first Earth Charter event on 22 April in Kizilkiya, a Student Award.