World Environment Day 2010
April 18 though June 5, 2010
Green Omaha Coalition
Presents
United Nations Environment Programme World Environment Day (WED) 2010
Bridging the Gap between Earth Day and WED
April 18 though June 5, 2010
World Environment Day (WED) 2010 – “bridging the gap” between Earth Day (17 April) and World Environment Day (05 June) – will celebrate the “elements of the environment” throughout a series of events over seven weeks – each week for six weeks will focus on a different theme. The 7th week will be a celebration of World Environment Day with events similar to events presented in WED 2009.
The successful WED 2009 when Omaha was the North American host city inspired the formation of the WED team under the umbrella of Green Omaha Coalition to present WED 2010 in a series of events, celebrations and activities organized by local government officials, businesses, organizations and individuals during the seven weeks that “bridge the gap” between the 40th anniversary of Earth Day to be celebrated in Omaha on April 17 and World Environment Day on June 5. The WED team and the participating partners have received the support and encouragement of United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Regional Office for North America (RONA).
World Environment Day is truly a People’s Day: it is the chance for everyone, young and old, with their community or with close friends, to show that they care for the planet. The theme for WED 2010 “Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature.”
Structure of WED Coordination team: Green Omaha Coalition GOC is the lead sponsor with WED as part of the GOC Program Committee. The WED team includes individuals and organizations interested in volunteering for this effort. Each week is headed by a coordinator (individual(s) and/or organization). The WED team will work together with these weekly coordinators. The WED team will be the coordinator for the events of the 7th week ending on World Environment Day (05 June).
WED Objectives:
- To build awareness of sustainability;
- Social networking – “what’s happening”;
- Empowering the individual so that he/she can make a difference;
- Moving the individual to action.
The “elements of the environment” – air, water, earth/land, fire/energy.
Weekly themes: Children (Education), Arts, Transportation, Food, Neighborhoods, Nature. Each week has a coordinator. The email addresses listed will be the contact for that theme’s week.
| Wk 1: April 18 – 24 | Children/Education – Ken Finch |
| Wk 2: April 25 – May 01 | Arts – Julie Conway |
| Wk3: May 02 – 08 | Transportation – Sarah Johnson/Anne McCollister sarah@greenstreetcycles.com anne.mccollister@gmail.com |
| Wk 4: May 09 – 15 | Food – Eric Williams mrerlo@gmail.com |
| Wk 5: May 16 – 22 | Neighborhoods -Kurt Goetzinger |
| Wk 6: May 23 – 29 | Nature – Tom Bragg (UNO)/Barbi Hayes |
Wk 7: May 30 – June 05 |
WED Team - Nicolette Amundson |
Event form needs to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date of the theme week selected.
Organization/ individual holding the event is responsible for funding it.
All World Environment Day (WED) 2010 events will be crossed promoted with other WED events and will be listed in the WED website www.omahaenvironmentday.com which will be linked to the UNEP RONA website www.unep.org/rona).
All events must be approved by the WEDTeam. Organizations/individuals will submit the event form The coordinator will work with the WED Team for approval of event. Once an event is approved organizations /individuals may use the WED logo and GOC logo.
As GOC is the lead, all events must adhere to the GOC mission and goals:
http://www.greenomahacoalition.org/index.cfm?Page=AboutUs&AboutUs=MissionGoals
About World Environment Day
World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Commemorated every year on June 5th in more than 100 countries around the globe, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and boosts political attention and action.
With thousands of events in UNEP’s six global regions including North America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and West Asia, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind.
Omaha—2009 North American Host City for WED
Omaha (Nebraska) was selected as North America’s host city for WED 2009, in a reflection of the city’s commitment to environmental and sustainability issues. During the period between Earth Day on April 22 and World Environment Day on 5 June, events throughout the community highlighted resources, initiatives and methods that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
The city also held its own premiere of the film “HOME”, a Walk For The Environment, a Citizen’s Roundtable, and youth events included an award ceremony for the North American winners of the International Children’s Painting Competition and an interactive environmental workshop for Omaha students.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has named Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the host city for World Environment Day (WED) 2010 in North America.