E-Kolumna 2010 – creating network and information exchange for environmental NGO.

The project aims is to integrate and strengthen non-governmental organizations in Poland, and thus improve the quality of their environment’s actions in the longer term. It also allow the exchange of information, experiences and develop positions on the organizations who have  the most pressing environmental problems and for the strengthening and professionalisation of youth environmental organizations.

Actions which were taken under the project include organization of environmental organizations nationwide meetings, preceded of meetings of the Working Group, to created the documents held positions on important ecological issues and communicate them to the authorities, and action to support youth organizations, ekofestyn, publishing, www.

The project were implemented in partnership with the organization in Bulgaria (Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation), and with the Polish partner of the Foundation "Institute of Civil Affairs'.

In the years 1993-1997 Inter Environmental Lobby organized in the village near Lodz- Column meeting environmental organizations nationwide. Each part took 60-80 representatives of environmental organizations, and invited guests: scientists, representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the office of President of Poland. As a result of those meetings was to create networks and partnerships: A list of 21, Environmental Lobbying Support Office. The most important result was the direct knowledge of the environmental activists, exchanging information, engaging in partnerships. Many of the contacts witch were link in Column continues today and have results in joint actions.

Unfortunately, during last 12 years there was not organized any meetings for a nationwide environmental organizations. There are only a narrower group meetings, local themes such as the Federation of Greens Congress, meeting Polish Green Network, meeting in the Ministry of the Environment (eg on the issue of GMOs). Also, holiday music festivals, training, thematic conferences. However, none of them perform the role Column. A significant people left the environmental movement in 90s. Many groups have been solved. In their place appeared new. Currently, movement  is disintegrated, activists are not familiar with other, so cooperation is much more difficult. And this is most important  when it comes to environmental issues. Only conjointement efforts of many people, will provide the effectiveness of the actions for the environment. Currently, to some extent, the Internet provides information exchange, but a direct meeting, the live discussion, getting to know the activists, is incomparably more efficient.

Another problem is the lack of space in which that could be discussed and prepared strategies and common positions in several environmental groups. These documents are expected by the authorities and society, they are stronger effectiveness than the translation of sclerosis, often divergent positions of several groups.

There is also a problem that many young organizations is extremely difficult to start, move from a small informal group of enthusiasts to the role of effective organizations with the knowledge and resources. On the one hand, Poland is at least a dozen highly experienced organizations willing to share knowledge with other groups, on the other hand a large number of young people struggling with basic problems.

FERSO’s  employees over 16 years are working in the environmental movement, they know their needs well. They helped in the earlier meetings in the Kolumna and continuously engaged in environment protection. They meet with old and young organizations, they know their problems. However, the need for having to take the actions outlined in this project were also examined, through questionnaires sent in the autumn of 2008 to several dozen Polish environmental organizations. All tested organizations expressed the need for the organization of nationwide meetings. Most organizations indicated that it meets with other groups irregularly and intermittently, and co-evaluate the medium and low. There is thus a real need to examine efforts to integrate the environmental movement.

Activities under the project:

MEETING OF THE WORKING

The Working Group shall present 13 people: the project partners, and experienced several environmental organizations and experts ds ecological movement.

Meetings are to discuss the current situation in the ecological movement, needs, opportunities, challenges facing the movement, the most important environmental problems. Will be discussed and clarified in the meeting agenda chances, as well as the planned publication and further measures to support the Polish environmental movement and active citizenship.

There will be two two-day working group meeting in Spala:

In December 2009 and February 2010.

MEETING IN SPALA

The culmination of the project will be 3-day meeting in Spala (Lodz province).

At this stage, we outline the program. Details will be worked out by the working group. The final program will be a response to the ecological problem in 2010 and the traffic problems of POE. At the moment we anticipate that the appointment is May 13-15 2010.

The proposed outline of topics - the first working group meeting:

• Alternative models of social economy at the macro level,
• The partnership with the authorities of environmental organizations,
• Strengthening of social involvement,
• Creating Web ekospołeczności,
• Transport and energy policy,
• Protection of the Polish countryside and agriculture,
• The protection of valuable natural areas,
• Ecotourism,
• The risks of climate
• Create a new model for local communities or EcoTown.

The meeting will be divided into parts of lecture, discussion and work in the thematic sub-groups. Be developed common positions for the meeting participants, including energy, transport, protection of valuable natural areas. Also a common strategy for a coherent absorption of EU funds for environmental goals and to develop foundations for a media campaign aimed at creating a coherent image of farming as a professional activist.

It is planned to develop letters / POE jobs to President of the Republic and the Ministry of the Environment in Polish key issues such as transport, energy policy, GMOs.

Field workshops in the framework of the meeting will be held 5-hour classes in Spalskim Natural Landscape Park. Park staff will lead them. They have an informative and inclusive.

The meeting will be attended by some 60 members of environmental organizations, partners, speakers. Meeting will last 3 days, after working 8 hours a day, plus extra curricular activities. Information about the meeting will appear in the media. There will also be prepared posters and leaflets informing about the meeting, which reach to the NGO, community centers, libraries, institutions of higher education. Of recruitment will be used for survey studies the motivation and expectations of the participants. Each organization will be able to send an ecological meeting max. 2 representatives.

INCUBATOR

The idea is based on the idea of sharing the practical knowledge of experienced activists with the young beginners.

During the meeting, the chances is planned to block the training of young environmental organizations. 5-hour classes to choose topics will include: finance organization, public relations, working with the media, managing people, time and work organization, cooperation with authorities, etc. The classes will be hosted by experienced activists and experts in the field.

In addition, it is planned to introduce the scheme for young organization in the form of care for older, experienced group of nowopowstałymi. Experienced organizations will take under his wing after a few young, and will share knowledge with them and support them in the work of administrative, legal, organizational. The group will set the scope and modalities of aid. Groups (elderly plus young 2-3) will be established at a meeting in our chances, but the cooperation would start after the meeting. It is planned to rise at least 5 regional groups.

EKOFESTYN

One-day festival ecological our chances during the meeting. Will present a manufacturer of healthy, environmentally friendly products, eco-farmers, eco-technologies: home sewage treatment plants, solar panels, mini wind and water. Environmental conservation will be promoted. In addition, during the festival activities will be promoted environmental organizations, public campaigns, offers workshops for schools, green schools, etc. During the festival shows will be present in the organic co-performed by children from kindergarten to the applicant from Lodz. Festival will provide the musical setting of folk bands. Will also be conducted games for children, contests, lotteries. Fest will be held outdoors, in the center ła. Booth will be located in rented tents.

Will be invited to the festivities residents, schools and kindergartens with ła, Tomaszów, Piotrków, Lodz).

PUBLICATION

After the meeting, environmental organizations, the publication will be issued. It will be a summary of the meeting will include, inter alia, texts of speeches, a description of participating organizations, worked out the positions, proposals, a brief description of NGO movement with a vision for the future. Volume: max. 100 pages, book circulation 1000 copies will be sent to the participants of the meeting, other environmental organizations that have expressed an interest in key institutions in Poland, cooperating with the NGO.