HOME
 MISSION
 PROFILE
 ADVISORS
 MEDIA
 BLOG
 IN FOCUS
 PHOTOS
 MOVIES
 SPONSORS
 SLIDESHOWS
 LINKS
 CONTACT
 T'CHINGS

GREENING THE OLYMPICS
Back in 1990, before my walking days began, I happened to meet members of the delegation responsible for bringing the Olympics To Canada and suggested to them that it would be good for the world if they could hold an Environmental Olympics. Haughtily they replied. "The Olympics are about sports, not politics."
I'd never thought of the environment being about politics, but remembered the Moscow and Los Angeles Games being boycotted by The US and Russia; events that were most definetely about politics.
Consequently, I leapt for joy when I heard that the 2008 Beijing Olympics were going Green. Here was golden opportunity to spread the environmental message, to advance the alternative technolgies and resources now available and to inspire people to action... Read More

In 2002 Sheri Liao, Founder of The Global Village of Beijing, recipient of the coveted Sophie Prize, became an Environmental Advisor to the Beijing Olympic Committee.
Last year when we undertook the Earthday Friendship Walk through China, she invited us to help GREEN THE OLYMPICS

ESPOLON RIVER

 © 2007 earthwalker.com
 
T'CHINGS             

TOP





GREENING THE OLYMPICS

On the 18 November 2005 - An agreement aimed a making the summer Olympics of 2008 environmentally-friendly was signed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG).

The agreement rests on the ambitious programmes of Beijing in areas ranging from air, water and noise pollution up to transport, landscaping and the disposal of solid waste.

A key part of the plan and one in which UNEP will be actively involved is in the area of public awareness campaigns. In doing so the UN environment body hopes to leave a lasting legacy in China and beyond on the links between mass participation events and a healthy environment.

The campaigns will also link the importance of the environment generally in delivering sustainable development that benefits current and future generations.

Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director, said today at the signing ceremony: "Environment is one of the three pillars of sustainable development- development that respects people and the planet. Through sports and through the Olympic movement we can further this goal by holding games that minimize their environmental footprint and maximize the efficient use of resources".

"Beijing has committed itself to very high and ambitious environmental goals, ones which if achieved will percolate out into Chinese society and out into the world as a whole. UNEP is delighted to be a partner in this endeavor and we stand ready to assist and offer advice to the organizers in their attempt to realize the greenest summer games ever,"

Eric Falt, Director of the UNEP Division of Communications and Public Information which will be spearheading the UN side of the Beijing agreement, said:
" Sport has the power to bridge the divide between communities and countries and in doing so help in our common quest for a more stable and peaceful world".

"Part of that stability rests on a healthy and durable environment. So the commitments made by the organizing committee for the 2008 summer games have resonance both within and beyond the sporting world. Through well targeted and well designed public awareness initiatives we hope to take this message to the people of China and to the peoples of the world," he added.

The Walk From Hong Kong To Beijing reflects these values and will endeavour to reach as many people as possible, both in China and the world at large.

Following the Beijing Games, will be the 2012 London Olympics and it is hoped that Britain will step up to the plate and make the Green Olympics・the norm, rather than the extraodinary.

 INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM A UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME PRESS RELEASE
Visit their site, where you'll find many links and much more information on the Greening Of The Olympic Games






Planting A Tree For The Olympics, With Sheri Liao, Beijing 2006

Sheri Liao, graduated from Zhongshan University in 1986 with a Master degree in Philosophy. After working at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, she was a visiting scholar in Environmental Politics at the University of North Carolina. Committed to developing environmental education in China, she returned to Beijing to found GVB in 1996.

A Brief History Of The Global Village Of Beijing

In 1998, was appointed to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)

In 1999, joined the NGO Regional Focal Point

In 2001, became the Environmental Country Portal to UNEP

In 2002, joined of a delegation of Chinese NGOs that attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

In 2006, was rewarded one of the ten Most Effective Think-Tank Organizations in China.

In 2006, won the prize of 2006 Best Chinese NGO.

Owing to its tireless pioneering efforts, GVB's has been featured in the national as well as international media such as CNN, NHK, Start TV, News Week, and Reuters. As one of seven environmental specialists, Sheri Liao, was invited for the panel discussion with President Clinton, when he visited China in 1998.

A year later, in 2001 she accepted the International Banksia Award for environmental achievements. In 2005, Sheri was rewarded Annual economic figure Social commonweal Award by China Central Television (CCTV). In 2006, she was honoured Green Chinese Annual Figure.

To discover more about Sheri and her organisation visit The Global Village Of Beijing

TOP

HOME   MISSION   PROFILE   MEDIA   WALK LOG   IN FOCUS   PHOTOS   MOVIES   SLIDESHOWS   SPONSORS   LINKS   CONTACT