When the Danube River Protection Convention was signed in
Sofia, Bulgaria, on 29 June 1994, a lot of hope was put in what would be
a concerted international effort to save the Danube from pollution. The
last 10 years have shown that the hopes were realistic: cooperation between
governmental and non-governmental organisations, scientific institutions
and industries in and between the Basin countries has steadily increased
and – despite being far from perfect – today serves as a model
for the world.
The 10th anniversary of the signing of the Convention is the right moment
to celebrate the past achievements in its implementation and think of the
challenges that still lie ahead. The ICPDR has therefore decided to designate
June 29 as Danube Day. As an institutionalised event, it should be marked
in the calendars of ministers and water organisations throughout the Danube
Basin. In organising the first Danube Day celebration, the ICPDR will closely
co-operate with the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project and with other organisations
such as the Danube Environmental Forum, Global Water Partnership and WWF
International.
Danube Day is seen as a powerful tool for developing a “Danubian identity”
of the people living in the Basin by reminding them that in spite of their
different cultures and histories they have a shared responsibility to protect
a shared, precious resource - the Danube River. The basin-wide celebration
is also expected to strengthen the Danube Basin countries' solidarity reflected
in the slogan “everybody lives downstream”. Given this important
mission that Danube Day has to fulfil, it is not surprising that the UNDP/GEF
Regional Project has fully endorsed it and decided to support it financially.
Danube Day should be a light-hearted and festive event featuring water-related
games, exhibitions, field trips, round tables, workshops, educational and
public awareness-raising activities. Organisations and institutions at every
level of society, from kindergarten through high school, to churches, NGOs,
scientific institutions and national or local governments are encouraged
to participate. National Planning Teams have been established to organise
the different national events and harmonise them with the central event
to take place in Vienna, the seat of the ICPDR. The ICPDR has agreed to
provide the political frame for this truly international event and will
work together with the company AQA (www.aqa.at) to make June 29 a remarkable
day in 2004.
If you would like to do your bit for Danube Day, please get in contact with
your national Danube Day coordinator or the ICPDR Secretariat. Contributions
- even in the form of a simple idea - are more than welcome.