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History of Green Cross

 

Launched after the fall of the wall.

 

In 1992, on the occasion of the UN Conference in Rio, Mikhail Gorbachev demanded the foundation of what he called a «Red Cross of the Environment», in short Green Cross International, which would quickly and uncomplicatedly offer world-wide help in the event of environmental disasters. The Rio Conference adopted the proposal. At the same time MP Roland Wiederkehr founded a World Green Cross with the same objective in Switzerland. Both organisations merged in 1993 to form Green Cross International. The foundation of the first five national organisations happened only one year later, including Green Cross Switzerland, USA and Russia.

 

Green Cross International today forms the umbrella organisation for 30 national Green Cross organisations. At present it is headed by the former president of the Soviet Union and Nobel peace laureate, Mikhail Gorbachev.

 

In order to effectively implement its objectives Green Cross International has focused its activities on five global programmes. Green Cross Switzerland is involved in four programmes of which the Legacy Programme, under Swiss co-ordination, is the most important.

 

Legacy: The global Legacy Programme aims at overcoming consequential damages caused by industrial and military disasters in Eastern Europe, the USA and Vietnam, as well as at the clean-up of contaminated military sites from the Cold War.

 

Water is Life: The global programme Water–Life-Peace prevents, at the highest political level, conflicts which arise from the growing scarcity of water supplies and is concerned with the preservation of this vital resource.

 

Earth Charter: The global Earth Charter Programme commits people to deal with our planet in a responsible manner and gives instructions for action.

 

Energy and Resource Efficiency: This global programme supports the reduction of energy consumption and supports technology transfer in co-operation with its partners.

 

Environmental Education: Green Cross integrates environmental education in all of its projects.

Green Cross Events – Don’t Forget

 

The “Green Cross Events – Don’t Forget” campaign has been designed and managed by event agency Zeitpol in cooperation with Green Cross Switzerland.

 

Today’s generation of young people no longer has any personal memories of military and industrial catastrophes such as Chernobyl or the Cold War. The Green Cross Events aim to remind the public of past events like these.

 

A total of four events with the theme “Don’t forget” will take place in 2010 and 2011. Their aim is not only to raise awareness for the long-term consequences of military and industrial catastrophes but also to stage celebrations with live music and typical meals and drinks. The proceeds from the events will be directly invested in the projects of Green Cross Switzerland.

On 26 April 2010, Ukrainian band Haydamaky performed in protective gear at Hirschenplatz in Zürich to raise awareness for the 24th anniversary of the reactor catastrophe in Chernobyl.

Donor account Green Cross Switzerland: PC 80-576-7 IBAN CH02 0900 0000 8000 0576 7