World Environment Day
Since 1973, the 5 June each year marks the World Environment Day, established by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 2994 (XXVII) of December 15, 1972 with which he opened the Conference Stockholm, Sweden, whose central theme was the Environment.
That same day, the UN General Assembly approved the creation of the United Nations Programme for Environment (UNEP).
You could say that World Environment Day is a vehicle through which the United Nations Organization raise to the world in relation to environmental issues, intensifying the attention and political action and whose main objectives are to give a human context, encouraging people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable, to promote the vital role of communities in changing attitudes towards environmental issues and promote cooperation, as this will ensure that all the nations and peoples enjoy a future more prosperous and secure. World Environment Day is an event with multiple activities: concentrations in streets, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools and colleges, tree planting, recycling campaigns and cleaning, among others. It is also a multimedia event that leads journalists to write and do critical reporting about the environment. Television documentaries, photo exhibitions, intellectual events such as seminars, roundtables, conferences, just to name a few.
In many countries, this celebration is an opportunity to sign or ratify international conventions and, sometimes, provides permanent governmental structures related to environmental management and economic planning. The main international celebrations in 2006 were held in Algeria. This year the theme was “Deserts and Desertification” and the motto Do not Desert Drylands! “, Emphasizing the significance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40% of the planet’s surface. In 2007 however the activities are conducted in Tromsø (Norway) and the theme chosen was “Melting Ice a Hot Topic?” In 2008 the venue was New Zealand, the slogan Kick the Habit! Towards a low carbon economy. In 2009 the headquarters was Mexico, and the slogan: “Your planet needs you – Unite to Combat Climate Change.”
In 2010 the venue will be Rwanda and the slogan: “Many species. One Planet. A Future. “
