Dedicated to the International Day of Mother – Earth, an environmental information campaign took place in Dushanbe yesterday within the framework of the European Union project.

According to the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan, the campaign executor is the Blacksmith Institute, Great Britain, and the Coalition of Environmental Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Tajikistan “Tajikistan Toxic Free”.

The campaign was reportedly designed to encourage people to be more attentive to the fragile and vulnerable environment.

To this end, the Coalition held a press cafe with media representatives and a photo exhibition at the “Parking” Cafe.

In the frame of the “Press Cafe with the media”, the Coalition of Environmental CSOs “Tajikistan Toxic Free” invited media representatives to discuss the main environmental issues of Tajikistan, including the management of hazardous waste in the country, as well as solutions proposed by the Coalition and the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan.  The Coalition representatives prepared short reports.  In addition, a short video about the problems of obsolete pesticides - "Born in the USSR” was presented at the meeting.

The photo exhibition reflects the activities of the Coalition, and provided information on the cleaning of warehouses from obsolete toxic chemicals, conducting informational explanatory work on environmental issues.  Photos will be exhibited in the cafe from April 22 to April 29, 2019.

International Mother Earth Day was established in 2009, by the General Assembly under Resolution A/RES/63/278.  The Resolution was introduced by The Plurinational State of Bolivia and endorsed by over 50 member states.  It recognizes that “the Earth and its ecosystems are our home" and that "it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth.”  The term Mother Earth is used because it “reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.”  International Mother Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, starting in 2010.