e-Kolumna

E-Kolumna 2010 - networking and information exchange for environmental NGOs.

The project aims to integrate and strengthen non-governmental organizations in Poland and to improve the quality of their long term actions on the environment. It also enables the exchange of information and experiences and develop positions between the organizations of the group. It?s most focusing on environmental problems and the strengthening and professionalization of youth environmental organizations.

Actions in the project include meetings of a nationwide organization of environmental organizations, preceded by working group meetings, creating documents held positions on the major ecological problems and submitting them to the authorities, and action to support youth organizations, ekofestyn, publication.

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

In 1993-1997 Intercollegiate Environmental Lobby organized the village column national meetings of environmental organizations. From 1960 to 1980 they were attended by representatives of environmental organizations, also invited guests: scientists, representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the President's office. As a result of these meetings arose including networks and partnerships: A list of 21, Environmental Lobbying Support Office. The most important result was the direct knowledge of the environmental activists, the exchange of information, establishment of partnerships. Many of the contacts established in Kolumna continues today and results in joint actions.

Unfortunately, for 12 years there are not organized meetings for the national environmental organizations. There are only local and thematic group meetings, for example, the Green Federation Congress, meetings of the Polish Green Network, meeting in the Ministry of the Environment (eg on the issue of GMOs). Also holiday festivals, trainings, thematic conferences. However, none of them fits the role of Kolumna. Many groups have been disappeared. Currently, traffic is disintegrated, the activists did not know each other, so cooperation is much more difficult. And this is crucial when it comes to environmental issues. Only joint efforts of many people will ensure the effectiveness of the activities for the environment. Today, the Internet provides a degree of exchange of information. However, a direct meeting and discussion live, getting to know the activists, is incomparably more effective.

Another problem is the lack of space in which that could be discussed and developed strategies and common positions in a larger number of environmental groups. These documents are expected from the authorities and society. They have a stronger impact than scattered and often divergent positions dozens of groups.

There is also a problem that for the new organizations is extremely difficult to start. At first with a small step: informal group of enthusiasts which turns to the role of an effective organization with the knowledge and resources. On one hand, Poland has at least a dozen highly experienced organizations willing to share knowledge with other groups, while a large number of young people struggling with basic problems.

FERSO employees with 16 years working experience in the environmental movement know what is needed. The organisation helped in the previous meetings in the Kolumna and still engaged in environmental issues. However, the need for having to take the actions outlined in this project have also been investigated using questionnaires sent in the autumn of 2008 to several Polish environmentalists. All the surveyed organizations expressed the need for the organization of national meetings. Most organizations indicated that it would meet with other groups irregularly and intermittently, and evaluate the work of medium and low. There is therefore a real need to examine efforts to integrate the environmental movement.

Działania w ramach projektu

Project activities

WORKING GROUP MEETING
The Working Group currently has 13 people: the project partners, and several experienced environmental organizations and experts on ecological movement.
Meetings are to discuss the current situation in the environmental movement, the needs and opportunities, the challenges the movement faces with and the most important environmental problems. The proposed publication and further actions to support the Polish environmental movement and civic activity will also be discussed in the meeting program of Spala.
There will be two two-day working group meeting in Spala: in December 2009 and February 2010.
(Meetings held on 4-5 December 2009 and on 12-13 February 2010 in Spala)

MEETING SPAL
The culmination of the project will be a 3-day meeting in Spala (southern Ontario).
At this stage we propose the outline of the program. Details will be worked out by the working group. The final program will be a response to current environmental problems in 2010 and the traffic problems of POE. At the moment, we anticipate that a meeting is May 13-15, 2010.
The proposed outline of the subject - before the first working group meeting:
• Alternative models of social economy at the macro level,
• Partnership with the authorities of environmental organizations,
• Strengthening community involvement,
• Transport policy and energy
• Protection of the Polish countryside and agriculture,

• Protection of valuable natural areas,
• Ecotourism
• Animal Rights,
• The risks of climate change
• Creating a new model of community called EcoTown.

The meeting will be divided into parts: lecture, discussion and work in thematic subgroups. Common positions concerning inter alia, the meeting participants energy, transport, protection of valuable natural areas will be developed. A common strategy consistent absorption of EU funds for environmental and development grounds for the media campaign aimed at creating a consistent image as a professional environmental activist.
It is planned to develop letters / POE positions to the President and the Ministry of Environment in key Polish issues as transportation, energy policy, GMOs.
Field Workshop: the meeting will be held 5-hour classes in Spalskim Natural Landscape Park. Park staff will lead them.
The meeting will be attended by members of approx. 60 environmental organizations, partners, speakers. The meeting will last three days, 8 hours working a day, plus extra classes. Information about the meeting will appear in the media. There will also be prepared posters and leaflets informing about the meeting, which will go to the POE, cultural centers, libraries, university. On recruitment, the survey will be used for investigating the motivation and expectations of 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 young beginners.
During the meeting in Spala block training is planned for young environmental organizations. 5-hour classes to choose topics will include: finance in the organization, public relations, working with the media, people management, time and work organization, cooperation with authorities, etc. Activities will be conducted by experienced activists and experts in the field.
Experienced organizations will help the young ones. They will share knowledge with them and support them in the work of administrative, legal, organizational. Groups will set the scope and mode of assistance. Groups (elderly plus young 2-3) will be established at a meeting in Spala, and co-operation will begin after the meeting. It is planned to rise at least 5 regional groups.

EKOFESTYN
The one-day environmental festival in Spala during the meeting. It will present manufacturers of healthy, environmentally friendly products, eco-farmers, eco-technologies: home sewage treatment plants, solar panels, mini wind turbines and water. Environmental preservation will be promoted. Moreover, during the festival activities of environmental organizations will be promoted: public campaigns, workshops for schools, green schools, etc. The festival will present an ecological performance of children from kindergarten cooperating with the Foundation in Lodz.

The festival will take place outdoors, in the center Spala. The stands will be located in rented tents.
At the festival will be invited residents, schools and kindergartens to Spala, Tomaszów, Piotrków, and Lodz.

PUBLICATION
After the meeting of environmental organizations a summary of the meeting will be published. It includes texts of speeches, a description of participating organizations, working positions, proposals, a brief description of motion of POE with a vision for the future. Capacity: max. 100 pages, circulation 1000 copies The book will be sent to the participants, to other environmental organizations that have expressed an interest in, the key institutions working in Poland with POE.

Supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism, as well as from the budget of the Polish Republic’s NGO Fund.