Environment News
Read the latest news about Scouting and the environment and discover the great impact that Scouting activities have on the future of our planet
World Scouting is pleased to announce the launch of new SCENES Guidelines for Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and Environment as part of the World Scout Environment Programme.
"Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and the Environment are outstanding examples of Scouting's ongoing commitment to the environment, through protecting natural areas, engaging Scouts through fun and interesting environmental education programmes and demonstrating continuous improvements in environmental management practices. I commend these Scout Centres for their example to Scouting and the wider community of how Scouts can make a positive contribution to the environment.
I would like to encourage our National Scout Organizations to read the SCENES Guidelines and consider if there are potential new SCENES Centres that can be established," recommended Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
On the 5th of June Scouts will join in the annual celebrations of World Environment Day, participating in environmental education activities, tree planting projects and community celebrations throughout the world. Scouts are an official partner with the United Nations Environment Programme to celebrate this day, with Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, calling on our members to share their activities with the UNEP World Environment Day website. "World Scouting calls all young people, Scouts and non-Scouts, to engage with UNEP on the occasion of World Environment Day. Raising awareness on climate change and working towards achieving better living conditions has increased Scouting's commitment to addressing environmental issues. Youth empowerment is an integral part of World Scouting policy to invite young people to become agents of change"
Los Scouts en Venezuela, también se unieron a la actividad para combatir el cambio climático. Con una participación de 300 Scouts de Caracas y más de 40 adultos, se llevó a cabo el evento de promoción para La Hora del Planeta simultáneamente en tres centros comerciales de la ciudad capital.
Brought together about 500 people, a group of scouts from the Peruvian city of Lima held the "March of the Light", a day that I seek to draw attention from neighbors and businesses about the importance of saving energy for the good of the planet and fair use of natural resources, thus supporting the actions of "Blackout World" for the environment.
Scouts around the world switched off for Earth Hour on the 28th of March 2009 in a worldwide demonstration of a commitment to take action for the environment. Scouts in at least 45 countries participated in Earth Hour, engaging with their family, friends, classmates and communities to share in this world initiative in partnership with WWF. Scout youth members officially presented the results of Earth Hour to Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at an official UN meeting in Bonn, Germany.
Two training seminars are being offered to European National Scout Associations, free of charge with thanks to the support of the Alcoa Foundation, to support adults in Scouting with the delivery of the World Scout Environment Programme, using experiential education. This approach is based on the Scout Method and offers support for engaging Scouts in learning by doing, particularly with regard to exploration of the environment and natural world.
The first seminar will be held at Jambville, Paris 12 - 14 June 2009 and the second seminar will be held at Fritz-Emmel-Hause, Frankfurt 11 - 13 September 2009. A third seminar will be made available to Eurasian Regional National Scout Associations from 2 - 4 October in Moscow.
Scouts from the Asia-Pacific Region joined the rest of the world as they switched off lights for the Earth Hour 2009 on 28th March.
On the night of 6 April an earthquake has shaken a central region of Italy called Abruzzo. It was a real catastrophe: more than 250 people were killed, 1000 injured and about 25000 are now without a home. AGESCI and CNGEI (the two NSAs in Italy part of FIS - Federazione Italiana dello Scautismo) after the official request of the Italian Civil Protection are already on the spot to offer help and support to the people affected by the shock.
Just a few hours after the Situ Gintung dam in Indonesia burst early morning of 27th March 2009, Scouts from the south Jakarta rushed to the scene and responded to their immediate needs.
A firestorm swept across parts of Australia during February, killing 210 people, destroying more than 2,000 homes and severely damaging over 400,000 hectares of forests and farmland. A combination of a long-term drought, temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius and winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour created the state of Victoria's 'worst day in history'. The Scouts were quick to respond in engaging with the community to help rebuild the lives of those affected by this natural disaster.
