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International World Environment Day Celebrations to be held in Adelaide, Australia 'This is the first time that this important United Nations day will be held in the Pacific Region, and UNEP is indeed honoured that Australia has generously offered to host World Environment Day 2000 in Adelaide,' says UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Töpfer. | Eco-label for fish launched A major milestone for the Marine Stewardship Council H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan helped launch the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) first seafood products certified as having been harvested from sustainable managed fisheries in London. The seafood products come from two distinctly different fisheries, representing the scope of this initiative: Western Australian rock lobster and the UK's Thames herring. | The United Nations Secretary General's Millennium Report "We are failing to provide the freedom of future generations to sustain their lives on this planet. The founders of the United Nations set out, in the words of the Charter, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom - above all, freedom from want and freedom from fear. In 1945, they could not have anticipated, however, the urgent need we face today to realize yet a third: the freedom of future generations to sustain their lives on this planet. We are failing to provide that freedom. On the contrary, we have been plundering our children's future heritage to pay for environmentally unsustainable practices in the present. The natural environment performs for us, free of charge, basic services without which our species could not survive. The ozone layer screens out ultraviolet rays from the sun that harm people, animals and plants. Ecosystems help purify the air we breathe and the water we drink. They convert wastes into resources and reduce atmospheric carbon levels that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Biodiversity provides a bountiful store of medicines and food products, and it maintains genetic variety that reduces vulnerability to pests and diseases. But we are degrading, and in some cases destroying, the ability of the environment to continue providing these life-sustaining services for us. Kofi Annan, Secretary General United Nations These are the opening words of "Sustaining our Future", the chapter of the Secretary General's Millennium Report dealing with the environment. Our Planet 10.2 - Small Islands competition results Harri Vainio, from Lyon, France His suggestion was: I believe the environment of small island developing states could be safeguarded if we would care more! Ana Strbenac, from Zagreb, Croatia Her suggestion was: I believe the environment of small island developing states could be safeguarded if the citizens were more environmentally aware through good environmental education and public information. Eight runners up who each receive a copy of the book "Deep Water" published by Ellipsis, are: Jose Manuel Salazar, Colombia Romel S. Candanido, Philippines Josee Levi Felisberto de Uliveira, Brazil John Baptist Ssemitego, Uganda Francis Ga Nin Li, UK Thomas Gyimah-Mensah, Ghana John Coughlin, Canada Olivier Floriant Sieyadji, Burkina Faso First prize a seven-night holiday, second prize a four-night holiday, each for two people in Seychelles, was donated by Air Seychelles andPremier Holidays; and eight runner-up prizes of the book Deep Water, published by Ellipsis. | Sustainable tourism development: Tour operators take the initiative The tourism industry took a major step forward when UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Töpfer, launched the Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development. The Initiative is the result of substantial collaboration between tour operators and UNEP, UNESCO, and the World Tourism Organization (WTO/OMT). The Initiative was designed by tour operators for tour operators to improve the environmental performance of their businesses and the bottom line, and to contribute to the economic and social well-being of local communities. UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize Nominations for year 2000 UNEP is accepting nominations for the 2000 UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize. Worth US$200,000, the Prize is awarded every year to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the management and protection of the environment at the global level. Past winners include Chico Mendes, Lester Brown, and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. In 1999 the award went to Ian Kiernan, founder of the Clean Up the World Campaign, for mobilizing millions of people around the globe to take responsibility for their own environment. Call for proposals 2000 George P. and Cynthia Mitchell International Young Scholar Awards for Sustainable Development The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is accepting proposals for the 2000 George P. and Cynthia Mitchell International Young Scholar Awards for Sustainable Development. The Mitchell Young Scholar Awards was established in 1991 by George P. and Cynthia Mitchell to recognize contributions in the study of sustainable development made by individuals age 35 and younger who are Master or Doctoral students, or post-Master/Doctoral young professionals in business, academia, or the non-profit sector. Coastal Zone 2000 Youth Forum Coastal Stewardship: Lessons Learned and the Paths Ahead September 15th. - 17th. in Saint John New Brunswick, Canada Our vision: "To create an inspiring atmosphere where youth are empowered todiscuss and act upon issues that affect coastal areas". As part of the Coastal Zone Canada Conference, the Coastal Zone 2000Youth Forum will be an opportunity for youth to discuss, experience and actupon coastal zone issues. At the Coastal Zone Canada 1998 conference inVictoria BC, the Coastal Zone Youth Forum first started and thisinternational conference was absolute success!! The age range for thisinternational conference is from 16 to 29. This year the Youth Forum willtake place in Saint John New Brunswick, Canada and will be focusing on 4very important issues: Aboriginal Practices and Perspectives,Community-based Action, Coastal Health and Oceans Governance. News and Views Form | |