National Environmental Awareness Week will be observed from June 3-9, 2001 under the theme “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life” The Week coincides with World Environment Day, June 5 and World Oceans Day, June 8 celebrated each year by United Nations member countries. The objective of the Week is to focus public attention on environmental issues in order to increase awareness and stimulate action at the local level.
Several activities have been organized by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and a number of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to mark the Week.
The Week gets underway on Sunday, June 3 with a Special Church service to be held at the Boulevard Baptist Church, 2 Washington Boulevard starting at 9:00 a.m. In the afternoon at 3:00 p.m.the 16th annual conference of the Association for Natural Resources Enforcement Trainers (ANRET) will begin with a Business Session at the Trelawny Beach Hotel . The conference will continue until June 6.
The Negril Area Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) has scheduled a series of Community Meetings in the parish of Westmoreland during the week. The first meeting will be held at the Sheffield New Testament Church, Sheffield, Westmoreland on Monday, June 4 starting at 7:00 p.m. The second meeting will be held at Geneva, Grange Hill on Wednesday, June 6 and the third meeting will be held at West End, Negril on Thursday, June 7 also at 7:00 p.m.
On World Environment Day, June 5 the Ridge to Reef Watershed Project will convene a Strategic Planning Workshop targeting stakeholders in the Great River Watershed at the Knockalva Agricultural School, Hanover. A newspaper supplement will also be published in the Gleaner and the launch of the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species (CITES) website will take place on the same day. In addition, the Portland Environmental Protection Association (PEPA) has organized a Beach Clean-up of East Harbour Portland from 12 – 5:00 p.m. while the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health will be engaged in a community interaction in Majestic Gardens.
The fourth Annual Coastal Conference opens at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Thursday, June 7 under the theme “From Policy to Implementation – A Programme of Action for Effective Ocean and Coastal Resources Management.” The conference will run for two days culminating on Friday, June 8, World Oceans Day. An Environmental Fair will be held at the Retrieve All Age School, from June 7 – 8 at 10:00 a.m.
A tour of the Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park (BJMNP) and a Presentation on Birds will take place at Hollywell Park on June 8 starting at 8:30 a.m., while a Birdwatch has been scheduled for Saturday, June 9 at 6:00 a.m.
Other activities to mark the Week include environmental displays in parish libraries islandwide and at the Ministry of Health. Environmental Videos will be shown on Coral Seas Cable Network.
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging the public to support and participate in the various activities taking place during the Week.
For further information contact:
(NEPA)10 Caledonia Avenue Kingston 5. Tel:754-7550-1 Fax:754-7595 & 6. Email:nrca@infochan.com Website:www.nrca.org
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