Media Release 26 May 2008

Australian Scouts join global Clean Up campaign in lead up to World Environment Day

Australia's Scouts will play a vital role in protecting the environment for future generations following today's announcement that the World Organization of the Scout Movement has formed an alliance with the Clean Up the World campaign.

Up to 28 million Scouts in 156 countries, including Australia's 60,000 Scouts, will take part in a range of practical environmental initiatives, from tackling climate change and revegetation programs to environmental awareness campaigns as part of Australian initiative Clean Up the World.

The new relationship announced today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, Clean Up the World Chairman and Founder Ian Kiernan AO, and Scouts Australia Chief Commissioner John Ravenhall AM will add substantial volunteering power to Clean Up the World, mobilising an estimated 35 million people each year.

Dr Stephens welcomed the partnership, saying it will be a great way for Australia to spread its strong volunteering message around the world

"An incredible 205 Scout groups across the country volunteered their time on Clean Up Australia Day this year," Ms Stephens said. 

"At the recent 2020 Summit, there was an overwhelming call to promote new ways of volunteering; this new relationship between Clean Up the World and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement is a great way of doing this," Dr Stephens said.

Mr Kiernan agreed the volunteering capacity of the new relationship will help take global environmental volunteering to a new level.

"Australians are great volunteers - we know that because we see almost a million Australians volunteer their time to help clean up our environment each year on Clean Up Australia Day - but there is always more that can be done.

"Scouts are taking the lead by joining the Clean Up the World campaign and dedicating their time to protecting the environment year-round, from the upcoming World Environment Day on June 5th to the Clean Up the World Weekend in September.

Scouts Australia Chief Commissioner John Ravenhall AM said that the new alliance will act as further inspiration for Scouts across the world to take part in environmental activities.

"Scouts in Australia have always participated in Clean Up Australia Day and by joining Clean Up the World we can now share those experiences with others around the world," said Mr Ravenhall.

"This new alliance shows that the youth of today are more than prepared to play their part in helping protect our environment," he said.

Details of activities undertaken by other Clean Up the World participants can be found at www.cleanuptheworld.org

For further information contact Alana Mew, 0423 377 567

About Clean Up the World:
The Clean Up campaign started in 1989 when an Australian solo-yachtsman and builder Ian Kiernan, appalled by the amount of rubbish he came across while sailing, organized a clean up of the Sydney Harbour, during which some 40,000 volunteers removed rusted car bodies, plastics, glass bottles and cigarette butts from the water.

The campaign went global in 1993, with Sydney becoming Clean Up the World's headquarters. Today it brings together hundreds of members from around the world ranging from local community groups to national campaigns that carry out environmental projects throughout the year.

In 2008, Clean Up the World is celebrating 16 years of environmental action and achievement.

For more information, visit www.cleanuptheworld.org or contact Ms Alana Mew, ph: +612 8280 9100 or +614 2337 7567 email: alana@essentialmedia.com.au

About World Scouting:

The Scout Movement is a non-partisan movement of 28 million active volunteers in a world network of local groups that belong to National Scout Organizations in 156 countries. The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is an independent, non-profit organisation at the service of the Scout Movement, composed of its national organizations. It has had consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1947. It is recognised by the majority of UN agencies and governments and works in collaboration with other agents in the world of education and civil society.

Scouting is a educational social force that takes action on environment at local and international levels. It is a leading global movement for advocacy in the following fields:

- The promotion of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
- Sustainable development
- Protection of the environment

The environment has been central to the Scout Movement since its inception, with Scouts mainly undertaking outdoor activities and are therefore exposed to nature. This exposure and interaction with nature has sensitised Scouts on the need to conserve and care for the environment. On a regular basis, the Scout Movement worldwide undertakes clean-ups and tree planting campaigns, engages in water and soil conservation activities as part of their environmental education programmes.

For more information visit: www.scout.org or contact Vanessa Von der Mühll, ph: + 41 22 705 10 30 email: vondi@scout.org

About Scouting Australia

Scouting is the largest youth development organisation in Australia and the world and is a leader in this country's non-formal education sector.

The Scouting Program delivered by Scouts Australia, prepares young people aged 6-26 for business and community leadership. In its Centenary Year, Australian Scouting is strong with around 60,000 male and female members. Scouts Australia operates through the voluntary efforts of 13,000 Leaders and countless other supporters.

For more information visit: www.scouts.com.au or contact Richard Miller, ph: + 61 (0)2 9413 1133 email: richard.miller@scouts.com.au