2010

From July 8 to 16 Friends of the Baltic held a number of presentations of SPARE for teachers and public organizations in Kaliningrad region (the western enclave of Russia), in Lithuania and Poland, discussed local climate-friendly energy solutions, shared their experience of energy saving in residential areas and schools as part of the international public environmental bicycle campaign «Sea-Nature-Energy».

NGO Proaktiva with financial support from Ministry of environment and physical planning — R. Macedonia, began with realization of the project «Capacity building of students and science teachers in primary schools in the municipality of Aerodrom» as part of the implementation of SPARE educative program in the municipality of Aerodrom, Skopje.

From 1st to 5th June 2010 in Stavanger, Norway took place the International Environmental Children Conference "Tunza". The event was organized by the Norwegian NGO Young Agenda with support from the UN Environment Programme. The conference was held under the motto "What is the energy?"

A methodical training "Education as a means of attracting children to the problem of energy saving" was held for a group of teachers on May 11. The training was attended by 23 teachers from different town schools. The new textbook "Energy saving and climate change mitigation" was presented. The teachers got acquainted with the basic forms and methods of teaching the course. The participants received manuals and sets of information and learning materials that will contribute to a higher level of teaching the subject.

In May 2010 trip SPARE-delegation of children and teachers from the Central region of Russia took place in school - SPARE, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. The trip was successful and helped to identify the following positive steps in the development of relations school-SPARE different countries.

OrganizersOn April 2nd and 3rd 2010 a seminar “Climate, energy, human” was organized in Vologda by Gaia (Cola coordination center, SPARE coordinator in Murmansk region) and environmental public organizations of Vologda and Arkchangelsk region/ The seminar was dedicated to the issues of climate change and energy efficiency. The conference’s participants discussed the consciences of climate change in Vologda region and agreed that it is necessary to act both to adapt to climate change and to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Protection of nature and people’s natural livelihoods requires joint actions by public, authorities and specialist in different areas.

In January 2010 the Month of Energy Saving was organized in Ismailli district of Azerbaijan. Competitions, actions and other events took place at some schools. After exchanging views on global warming, COP-15, the consequences of climate change in Azerbaijan, the schoolchildren answered the following question “What steps would I undertake if I were a minister of energy?”

On March 19th and 20th 2010 “solar barrels” assembling workshop took place in environment and economics lyceum №65 in Bishkek. It was organized by BIOM environmental movement in cooperation with Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation and with the help from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry as part of SPARE project.

A practical seminar on energy saving cooking stoves was held in Nosiri village of Khusravi district on January 2010. The event was organized by “Little Earth” environmental organization with the help from Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation. The main task of the practical training was to demonstrate new and more advanced clay stoves constructions for cooking.

Environmental action “Earth Hour” took place all over the world on March 27th. Environmental center of the City Palace of Youth and Children was the Earth Hour action coordinator in Rivne. Schoolchildren held a big campaign with the goal to remind townspeople that electricity and nature resources should be saved.

The winners of the national SPARE competition were announced during the forum "Environmental message for Tarnovo" organised elegantly by the American College Arcus on 15th March, 2010. The national coordinator Todor Todorov announced the results of the competition in front of a prominent audience - the mayor of the city of Veliko Tarnovo d-r Rashev, local and national media, representatives of the Board of the Arcus College, the management of the College, teachers and students.

In St. Petersburg Ecocentrum on April 9 representatives of SPARE org-committee and Friends of the Baltic NGO met specialists of energy supply company Petroelectrosbyt. Energy service companies are planning to open an educational center for the conservation of electricity in the houses. This is a step towards the implementation of Federal Law «On energy saving...» http://rusecounion.ru/ang_energy2129, adopted in 2009. Forms of cooperation in education for schoolchildren and housing associations were discussed at the meetings.

Public Chamber of Russia has formed a working group on environmental education and public awareness. The working group has high level participation and aim at more and better environmental education in Russia. SPARE has been recognized as one of the most important stakeholders and invited to participate.

In January 2010, students, teachers, and administrators of schools in Russia and Bulgaria held teleconferences to share their experiences using the principles of Deep Ecology to address health concerns related to energy programs. The regularly scheduled conferences were sponsored by the Minor Ecological Academy "Gymnasium № 1 of the Bryansk region," s.Glinischevo Bryansk region.

April 7th in the Ministry of environment and water. The event was hosted by Oddmund Otterstad who is the Chair of the Advisory Board of the program.

Gutta-Club — SPARE — coordinator in Moldova, actively supported Earth Hour 2010 and involved. 25 educational institutions from Kishinev to took part in Earth Hour. On reverse side of energy bills that every consumer in Moldova gets, Gutta Club placed a call to participate in Earth Hour and always save natural resources. On March 26th a group of 27 schoolchildren from 16 SPARE schools of Kishinev visited I.C.S. «RED UNION FENOSA» S.A. where they got a unique opportunity to visit an old and a new controller’s offices and to see a presentation about efficient use of resources.

The final round of the International Competition on Youth Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency Projects was held in Kyiv at the National Environmental and Naturalistic Youth Center of Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science. The works of the winners from Ukraine will be presented this spring in the final contest in the Norwegian capital Oslo.

October 20 Ministry of Education of Bulgaria has issued an official letter, expressed Minstry support for international SPARE project, where Bulgaria is rightful participant. Ministry conciders, that introduction SPARE to eschool education in Bulgaria will help to increase knowledges and practical sckills on the climate change, sustainable energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy.