Call for record participation on 2009 Clean Up the World Weekend

MEDIA RELEASE - 17 September 2009

On the countdown to the 17th Clean Up the World Weekend, 18-20 September, communities across the globe are looking to break all records by mobilising tens of millions of volunteers in support of the environment.

Held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Clean Up the World Weekend is the cornerstone event of this global campaign. It provides the perfect opportunity for communities to unite to take practical measures to help tackle environmental issues such as climate change on a global scale.

The Australian founder and chairman of Clean Up the World, Ian Kiernan AO* said many of the proposed actions over the weekend support the 2009 campaign theme of “Communities uniting to combat climate change”.

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our world today and while high-level political decisions are critical, community-based, grassroots action is essential if we are to protect our environment for future generations,” Mr Kiernan said.

“We are already seeing the destructive effects of global warming. Unless steps are taken now, we will increasingly see coral bleaching, desertification, rising salinity levels, species extinction and low lying islands disappearing because of sea level rise. People want to be able to do something practical in the fight against time. Clean Up the World gives people the opportunity to join with tens of millions worldwide to do just that.”

From tree planting and revegetation to waste reduction and recycling, Clean Up the World volunteers from Algeria to Zimbabwe in Africa, Australia to Vanuatu in Asia Pacific, Iraq to United Arab Emirates in West Asia, Argentina to Venezuela in the Americas and Austria to the United Kingdom in Europe join the campaign to show the world that acting on a local level can positively impact what is a global problem.

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner praised communities participating in Clean Up the World for the important contribution they were making to the global effort to improve the environment and address climate change.

“In 80 days from now, the world’s leaders will be meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate what, we all hope, will be a path-breaking new agreement on how to address climate change. We all know that climate change has become, for every citizen on this planet, an issue that is not only a threat in the future, but also a responsibility today. We are faced with many dramatic developments that will affect citizens, rich and poor, in north and south, and east and west.

The United Nations and the Secretary General are deeply committed to helping the world find an agreement in Copenhagen, but it will require political courage, political leadership, but above all, it will depend on citizens across the world to become engaged. Sometimes the smallest action can make a difference. Clean Up the World is a very practical way of saying, ‘I care, I’m committed and I will do something’. I hope that, as we look towards Copenhagen, your voices, your actions, your initiatives across the world on this day will make not only a difference in your community, they will also make you feel part of a global community that cares,” Mr Steiner said.

To get involved register your group’s activity for the Clean Up the World Weekend, 18-20 September on http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org . See the list of activities taking place around the world or be part of our online community by following us on twitter or join our facebook page.

* AO Order of Australia awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Clean Up the World is a campaign held in conjunction with our Primary Partner UNEP. Sponsors - Brambles and Qantas. Supporters - The Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Armor and Marriott International.

Media contact for Clean Up the World: Angela Mayer, angela@cleanuptheworld.org
For more information about Clean Up the World, visit:
http://www.cleanuptheworld.org
http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org
http://cleanuptheworld.wordpress.com

For more information about the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), visit:
http://www.unep.org

For more information about the UN-led Seal the Deal! Campaign, including the Climate Petition and the Global Climate Week, visit:
http://www.sealthedeal2009.org