Western Division – Lautoka

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nation Assembly to mark the opening of the 1972 Stockholm Conference.

Celebrating WED is about the inspirational power of individual action that collectively becomes an exponential force for positive change.

WED thematic celebration have in the past included caring for the earth and water, the ozone layer, climate change, desertification and sustainable development.

Moreover, WED is hosted by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5th. The WED celebration this year is being hosted by India and the international theme for this year is: “Forest: Nature at Your Service”. This is because this year is dedicated to the International Year of Forest, 2011.

Why Celebrate World Environment Day

When we see or experience the negative effects of climate change and other environmental degradation, it is easy to blame others – government for not prioritizing environmental policy; corporate organizations for raising greenhouse gas emission; NGO’s for not lobbying strongly enough for the environment; and individual for not taking action.

World Environment day however is a day we put aside our differences and instead celebrate the achievement we’ve made towards protecting the environment.

By celebrating WED, we remind ourselves and others of the importance of caring for our environment. Remember that every action counts, so join in the celebration every year, everyone, and everywhere.

Introduction

In the previous year’s Fiji usually commemorate the event within a week, normally the first or second week of June to coincide with the WED on June 5th. The campaign is usually organized by our Department and is budgeted annually by the government.

In the past it was observed that the National Environment Week Campaign that is organized in the week loses its momentum after the week celebration ends.

Therefore starting last year the commemoration was held quarterly covering the wide three divisions (central, western and northern division), this enabled the momentum to be ongoing all throughout the year.

The celebration is designed to highlight various issues relating to the theme in different innovative ways. These activities are normally implemented in different parts addressing different target audiences.

Objectives of Western Division Environment Awareness Campaign

• To maximize outreach of environment awareness message to the Western Division targeting the general public, the community and individual
• To create a change in people’s mind set to care and protect our environment.
• To raise awareness on the importance and meaning of the environment theme.
• To educate people about the environment and their responsibilities.
• To improve public relation and networking on environment related matters
• To create awareness on environmental problems and environment protection.

Expected Outcomes

• Greater awareness and understanding of the protection and sustainability of Fiji’s environment specifically for the Western Division.
• Informed decision made at the community level on environment base theme.
• Effective networking amongst the communities.
• To adopt the ethic for living sustainably and with the right attitude.

Target Groups

• Communities
• Youths
• Schools
• The general public
• Stakeholders in Government, NGO’s, Church Groups, Private Organizations etc

Proposed National Theme

The world Environment theme focused on the forest as the theme for world environment day. However, the national theme for this celebration not only focuses on forest but on the ENVIRONMENT and our BIODIVERSITY. The theme is “MY Fiji: My Web of Life”.

This theme briefly elaborates that we live in a web where we are interdependent and we call it home. Thus, if we destroy the web through human induced factors we are also destroying our home and also ourselves in the process.

It is important that people understand this linkage and create a sense of change in them before taking an action.

Western Division Environment Awareness Committees

A Western Division Environment Awareness Committee has been formed to oversee the Planning and Implementation of the Environment Awareness program in the Western Division. It consists of representative from line government departments and other stakeholders in the Western Division.

Activities

Below are the activities that were carried out during the Environment Week Western Campaign:

• Community Awareness
• School Visitation
• West Rivers and Stream Clean Up Campaign
• Church Services to celebrate God and the Environment.

Outcomes

• The first week of the campaign was focused on community awareness whereby various community and villages were visited and raised awareness on the environmental issues that is seen to be affecting their local communities. The Awareness started in Nadroga and concluded in the Rakiraki at the end of the week.
• Certain schools were visited; these schools were nominated by the Lautoka City Council as part of their 3r’s campaign. This was also a one week campaign whereby these schools were judged according to the criteria given.
• The rivers and streams Campaign that was held in the west was held in communities where the community awareness was held. This was a follow up to the community awareness that held in the previous week. We engaged officers from town council and other government officers including the members of the community itself.
• The western campaign was concluded by having a interdenominational Church Services which included all the churches that existed in around the Lautoka area.