Environment Committee encourages participation in environment celebrations next week
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ standing Environment Committee is encouraging members to participate in events next week for Canadian Environment Week June 5-11, 2011. This year’s theme, in conjunction with the United Nations declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Forests, is “Preserving our Forests, Protecting our Future.”
“Many of us don’t understand how essential forests are for our survival,” said Vice-President Sandy Kyle, who chairs the committee. “The oxygen we breathe comes in large part from forests, and forests are essential for medicine and clean air and water, as well as a precious natural resource that needs to be managed and protected.”
This year’s focus on forests is “a unique opportunity to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests,” says the Environment Canada website.
Canadian Environment Week is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with many events around the country. For information on local events, members are encouraged to visit the Canadian Environment Week event page on Facebook.
Canadian Environment Week is held during the first week in June to coincide with World Environment Day on June 5. World Environment Day was declared by the United Nations in 1972 to stimulate action on the environment and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.