SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE BARENTS REGION: PROBLEMS OF SECURITY AND ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS
International Youth Conference
26 February - 1 March 1999
Apatity - Murmansk region - Russia
ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Dear colleagues!
It is our
pleasure to invite you to International Youth Conference "Sustainable Development in
Barents Region: Problems of Security and Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in
Desicion Making Process". Conference will be hosted by Youth
Ecological Scientific Society "ECO-AS" (Center
"EKONORD") from February 26-March 1, 1999.
A big number of joint
programs aimed to solve economical, ecological and social problems are run in the
framework of Barent region collaboration, but unfortunately they remain unsolved through
the complexity of the task.
For example, the problems of radiation security, wild nature conservation and pollution of
the atmosphere by the emissions of copper-nickel smelters are still not solved though a
lot of money and much efforts were applied to. One of the main reasons that joint programs
have much low effectiveness when realized, is that subjective interests of persons in
charge of financial recources play the main role in tasks ranking, but not the objective
needs of the society.
It is obvious now that main desicions, on which the solution of security problems depends
so far, are to be made and will be made on the community level and community relations.
International level connections between the representatives of the non-governmental
organizations and especially Youth movements, take on special significance in this
situation.
PROPOSED PLENARY SESSION THEMES
OBJECTIVES
Aims of the Conference are:
to outline the most actual problems of ecological security im the Barents region;
to suggest general strategy of actions to solve these problems with participation of
non-governmental organizations.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME
We plan to have selected oral presentations and to organize the round table
discussions. There will be opportunities for photo- and video-data demonstration.
Also we want to visit one of the "hot ecological spots" of Murmansk region,
where ecological security problems may be solved only as an integrated ones (mine of
joint-stock company "Apatit" or timber settlement "Oktjabrsky").
PROPOSED PLENARY SESSION
THEMES
I. Main problems of ecological
security im the Barents region:
· Ecological and economical danger of extensive forestry and mining
· Rights of indigenous people and their ecological responsibilities
· Radiation security. Ecological and economical approaches to NPS problem.
· Environmental pollution as result of activity of metallurgy factories
II. Ways for participation of NGO's in desicion
making process. Methods, critical review of effectiveness of concrete programmes.
· Consumers campaigns
· Use of mass media to govern public opinion
· Direct actions
· Political lobby (ecological parties, support for "green" deputies, ecological
legislation development)
· Ecological education and role of NGO's
· NGO's approaches to complexity solution to ecological and economical issues
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Participants will have possibilities for oral presentations during plenary
sessions and poster presentations. Plenary oral presentations should cover one of the
proposed themes in regional context. The number of oral presentations is limited and
determined by Organizing Committee.
There will be opportunities for short (ca. 10 min.) oral presentation of selected most
interesting posters, followed by dedicated poster viewing session.
Lantern slides and other illustrative material are welcomed.
LOCATION
The Conference will be held in Murmansk region. This site was chosen as a region
where the main part of the projects connected with the Barents region ecological security
are realized.
The meeting will take place in green belt of Apatiy town, in hotel "Imandra",
located on the bank of one of the most beautiful of Kola peninsula lake.
CALL FOR CONTIBUTIONS
Those interested to contribute to the conference should submit application.
Topic of their presentation / poster and topics of one-two of the most favourable round
tables should accompany application. Please also advise us if you need special equipment
for your presentation (camera of projection, videotape recorder and others).
Organizing Committee has some funding to pay the main expenses for limited number of
invited participants (travel costs, hotel, food).
Feel free to e-mail or fax us! We will send you information about different parts of the
Conference as soon as we have received your application.
SUPPORT
The Conference is supported by Ulof Palme Memorial Fund and "Econord"
Center.
Kluchnikova Elena
Smirnov Dennis
"Econord" Center
PO Box 176 Apatity, Murmansk region 184200 RUSSIA
phone 79-762
intern. fax/phone +47 789 14 118
E-mail: smirnovd@inep.ksc.ru