Environment News

SCENES Seminar Invitation

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:05:26 GMT

A seminar for the SCENES Centres (Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and Environment), will be organized from the 18th to the 23nd May 2010, in Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland.

The aim of the seminar is to bring together representatives of existing and potential SCENES Centres, the SCENES Network and people interested in supporting the development of Scouting and the environment, particularly through SCENES Centres. The aim is to strengthen the SCENES Centres and SCENES Network and explore how to continue to advance SCENES as part of the World Scout Environment Programme.

During the seminar, we ask for active participation from all participants so that we can learn from each other. The seminar is designed to be able to support potential new SCENES Centres to learn from existing centres.

World Scout Environment Programme Kit available in Spanish

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:46:17 GMT

The World Scout Environment Programme offers tools, resources and initiatives to help Scouts all around the world work together for the good of the local and global environment. This resource kit is now available in Spanish with special thanks to Marisol Mayorga of Costa Rica in particular for her support in translating the documents from English to Spanish.

Solidarity with Haiti : Call for international donations

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:06:01 GMT

Geneva, January 14th 2010 – After the violent quake which struck Haiti, World Scouting is mobilising in order to help the 30,000 Scouts of Haïti so that they can come to the aid of the stricken population. In the name of World Scouting, a message of solidarity and compassion, was sent to Haitian Scouts, even though it is very difficult to get into contact with them for the moment. A volunteer cooperation specialist from “Scouts et Guides de France” (Scouts and Guides of France) is on site in Port-aux-Princes, to support the coordination of the international Scout aid.

A precise indication of what the needs are of the stricken families in terms of goods of first necessity, has been made possible thanks to the contacts, although limited, that have been made at this time. In fact, the 30,000 Haitian Scouts are essential relays between the emergency NGOs and the local population. Their action during the hurricane of 2008, has shown their capacity to act efficiently in operations of clearing, cleaning, decontamination and also by taking care of children that have been left to their own devices, as well as by building emergency camps.

Misaershaff newest SCENES Centre in Luxembourg

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:45:49 GMT

The Misaershaff Youth Training Centre has been designated the newest SCENES Centre (Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and Environment) having met all of the key requirements for a SCENES Centre.

This old farm, built in 1833, is situated along the river banks of the Haute-Sûre. It has been the FNEL’s (Fédération Nationale des Éclaireurs et Éclaireuses du Luxembourg) national training centre since 2003. Offering a variety of environmental education programmes, demonstrated environmental management practices and picturesque natural settings to explore, Misaershaff is a great location to experience the natural wonders of the environment.

For more information on Misaershaff and the other SCENES Centres please see the SCENES Section of the World Scouting Website: www.scout.org/scenes

Unite to Combat Climate Change

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:07:32 GMT

Clean Up the World and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) are celebrating the second year of their Ally relationship in 2009 by working together under the banner of “Communities uniting to Combat Climate Change”.

Clean Up the World and WOSM are proof in point that partnerships such as their Ally Relationship can bring about tangible improvements in the environment, create opportunities to connect with others and have fun in the process. As each of the organisations works in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, their individual missions are strengthened through this Alliance.

Indonesia hosts the first APR Disaster Management Workshop

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:23:50 GMT

16 November 2009, Jakarta -- The very first Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Disaster Management officially opened in Cibubur Scout Complex in Jakarta today which will run until 19th November 2009.

"Scouts Guyana" held National Environmental Workshop for Cub Scouts

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:34:49 GMT

An environmental workshop was held over the weekend, October 31st to November 1st, 2009, which targeted the Cub Section (7-11yrs. Old). Twenty-three (23) Cub Scouts participated in this workshop for which nine (9) Cub Packs were represented.

Scouting for the Environment at Euro Scout Academy

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:47:04 GMT

Exploring the local park, considering the biggest environmental challenges facing the planet and discussing how Scouts connect with nature were all part of the training provided to Scouts at the Euro Scout Academy. Fourteen participants from Denmark, Lithuania, Portugal, Iceland, Malta, Belgium, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland explored the World Scout Environment Programme and how this can be of benefit to their own National Scout Organizations.

Climate Change Threatens Scouting Way of Life

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:04:20 GMT

Scouts across the world are lending their voices in the fight against climate change. From the Arctic Circle to small island states, to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, climate change is impacting upon traditional Scouting activities. The World Organization of the Scout Movement is made up of over 30 million girls, boys, women and men in 160 countries and they are feeling the heat from climate change across the globe.

350 at 6th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Youth Forum

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:33:05 GMT

24th October 2009 marks the International Day of Climate Action, an initiative of 350.org and the Asia Pacific Regional Youth Forum participants joined this campaign with great enthusiasm and creativity. 350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Their mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

Niger, floods leave 39000 homeless: Scouts extend a helping hand to victims

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:29:17 GMT

NIAMEY – In the wake of the destruction of the town of Agadez by floods, 40 Scouts left Niamey, destination: Agadez, with a mission of helping the floods victims. Their response was swift and generous.

حملات كشفية مستمرة لنظافة الشواطئ بلبنان

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:54:25 GMT

بمشاركة 150 كشافاً وجوالاً نظمت جمعية كشاف البيئة التابع لاتحاد كشاف لبنان حملة نظافة واسعة مواكبة للاحتفال باليوم العربى للبيئة استهدفت محمية جزر النخل الطبيعية بطرابلس، وقد رفعت الحملة شعار ( دعونى أتنفس ).وقد بدأت الحملة بالانطلاق إلى الجزر المحمية بواسطة المراكب، حيث أنتشر المشاركون على طول الشاطئ منتشلين المخلفات والنفايات التى رمت بها الأمواج وتم تجميعها بكميات كبيرة ثم رفعها إلى أماكن جمع النفايات.

وقد صرح القائد نجيب سنجر مفوض البيئة أن البرنامج تضمن أيضاً محاضرة حول التنوع البيولوجى فى المحمية وأهمية تكوينها وتفردها عن باقى المحميات المنتشرة فى لبنان خاصة فى مجال حماية وتفريخ السلاحف البحرية المهددة بالإنقراض، وشارك فى البرنامج أفواج أبى سمراء، السلام، البداوى، النجمة، طرابلس، حلبا، برج العرب، الميناء، و تأتى الحملة فى إطار اليوم العربى للبيئة و حملة البحر و الشمس التى أطلقتها المنظمة الكشفية العربية و مركز اليوم العالمى.

JOTA-JOTI 2009 Half a million Scouts, 6500 actions for environment

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:00:35 GMT

On the weekend of 17-18 October 2009, thousands of Scouts from all over the world met via air-waves and the Internet. At the World Scout Bureau radio station, the JOTA international team welcomed 50 Scouts and Guides de France and Portuguese Scouts. They established connection with more than 50 countries. From Germany, the JOTI international team implemented all the necessary technology to run the event.

Arab Scouts clean up the beach for International Arab Environment Day

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:41:23 GMT

580 Scouts and Guides throughout the Arab region took to the beaches and rivers to help clean up their local water ways. This even included diving beneath the waters to collect rubbish that had washed up on the coastline. A special celebratory ceremony was held at the Alexandria Sea Scout Centre in Egypt under the patronage of the Governor of the Alexandria Governate, with representatives from 18 National Scout Organizations, Government officials, as well as representatives from the World Scout Bureau Arab and Central offices.

Help tackle the climate change challenge with 500,000 Scouts on JOTA-JOTI!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:22:35 GMT

This year's JOTA-JOTI Jamboree on the Air / Jamboree on the Internet will have a special World Challenge - the 'Climate Change Challenge' (C3). This is a way in which you can join with the 500,000 Scouts around the world to take action to help to tackle climate change in your local community and around the world.

For more information see the JOTA and JOTI web pages below:

scout.org/jota and scout.org/joti

You can chat about the Climate Change Challenge C3 in the JOTI chat room: #wosm-challenge
You can chat about the World Scout Youth Forum in the JOTI chat room: #wosm-forum

Swazi Scouts attend workshop on sustainable farming

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:16:51 GMT

From 16 to 20 September 2009, a five-day workshop on bio-intensive farming was held at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve in South Africa. Participants came from England, Kenya, Ireland, South Africa, Swaziland, USA and Zimbabwe. Swaziland was represented by members of the Swaziland Scout Association (SSA), Wandile Simelane and Sibonakaliso Mdluli. Simelane is a teacher and Scout leader at Manzana Primary School while Mdluli is a full-time volunteer of the Thirst for Life Scout Initiative.

Experiential Environment Education Training Seminar held in Germany

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:08:49 GMT

The first WOSM Experiential Environment Education Training Seminar has been held with much success at Fritz Emmel Haus in Germany. The seminar offered an adult leader training component to support the delivery of the World Scout Environment Programme, with the first training seminar being targeted at European National Scout Organizations with support from the Alcoa Foundation.

Namibian Scouts hold their 4th Jamboree at Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:32 GMT

The fourth bi-annual Namibian Scout Jamboree took place between the 26th and 30th of August, 2009 at the Cheetah Conservation Fund outside of Otjiwarongo. For four days, the Jamboree brought together 117 young men and women from 12 to 18 years of age to hike, learn survival and life skills, meet new friends, and share information between Scout groups in the country.

Scouts brave powerful earthquakes that hit West Java, Indonesia

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:53:25 GMT

Scouts of Gerakan Pramuka (GP) were mobilised when a series of powerful quakes struck the Indonesian island of West Java since 2nd September, claiming 70 lives and injuring hundreds of others.

Scouts join UNEP International Children and Youth Conference in Korea

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:55:52 GMT

Scouts from around the world joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Children and Youth Conference in Daejeon Korea from the 17th to 23rd of August 2009 to focus on how to tackle the climate change challenge. This was the world's largest-ever truly global youth gathering on climate change with some 700 young people, ranging from 10 to 24 years of age, from 110 countries.