Being in fact a global civil initiative, volunteer movement is widespread
in many European countries. The realization that voluntary conservation
activity is one of available constructive ways to improve quality
of life of the society is growing in today's Russia. The state of
the environment has always been an important indicator of the society's
well-being. But what stands in the way of Russia's green movement
is poor ecological education, lack of comprehensive information platform
resulting in uncoordinated activity of conservation NGOs, cultivation
of consumer ideals and disbelief in one's power to combat natural
disasters and improve ecological situation.
"I think it's
essential to give each person a chance to take up responsibility
for the state of the planet and do something useful and constructive
for its benefit, - says program coordinator Galina Sago. - Even
a little action is better than nothing! And little actions taken
by thousands of people can work a miracle! - everyone has to realize
this. Developing such an attitude is crucial for Russian society
that yet has no habit of thinking positively".
Taking into consideration all the aforesaid the BCC has outlined
several tasks to be fulfilled in the course of the project:
involving volunteers - students of secondary schools, universities
and just sympathetic people into projects and events run by the
BCC ("March for Parks", "Oaks
of Eurasia", "Adopt a Sanctuary", etc.) and other
environmental NGOs;
cooperation with Specially Protected Natural Areas - rending them
volunteer help, conducting restoration and sanitation work, etc;
publication of an on-line bulletin for green activists and conservation
agencies to stir up exchange of ideas, experience, advice, unite
their efforts and provide instant communication;
organization of seminars and training courses in order to raise
level of volunteers' professional skills;
publication of articles in newspapers and magazines to raise environmental
awareness in citizens and enhance the attractiveness of volunteer
movement.
Within the framework of the program professional contacts with the
following ecological organizations were established: "Friends
of Losiny Ostrov" club, Nature Protection Corps, "Zapovedniki"
ecological center, Department of ecological education "Kuzminki",
Greenpeace
Russia, International
Socio-Ecological Union (ISEU). These organizations are already actively
collaborating in the field of conservancy volunteer movement development.
Currently the participants of the project are engaged in preparing
the first issue of the bulletin "Volunteer-Info". Information
they are collecting include data on:
seminars and training sessions on working with volunteers;
ecological organizations collaborating with volunteers;
educational establishments of Moscow that could be involved
