SPEAKING OF LEGAMBIENTE
Legambiente is the most widespread environmental organization in Italy, with 20 Regional branches, more than 1,500 local groups in the whole country and more than 115,000 members. It is acknowledged as “association of environmental interest” by the Ministry of the Environment; it represents the UNEP National Committee for Italy, it is one of the leading members of EEB (“European Environmental Bureau”), which is the Federation of European environmental organizations, and of IUCN - the World Conservation Union. At Mediterranean Level , Legambiente is in the Board of M.I.O. (Mediterranean Information Office). The headquarters are in Rome, Milan and Grosseto, with a staff made up of at least one hundred professionals and experts on different fields of activity. www.legambiente.eu
The key words which characterize our activities are the following:
'Think Globally, Act Locally': we try to make people understand that it is by making local concrete changes that we can create a better environment for everyone on a global scale;
Scientific Environmentalism: our initiatives for the safeguard of the environment are carried out on the basis of accurate scientific data. Every time there is a lack of agreement with some political choice that may be environmentally hazardous, we suggest a feasible and practical alternative;
Priority-attention is given to the problems connected with environment and urban degradation and to the link between economy and environment;
Environmental Education: Attention is constantly paid to raising the awareness of the public on the importance of environmental issues and respect of nature. Moreover we support the right to be informed on issues concerning people’s health (food, air and water pollution, etc.).
Original and innovative approach to the issues of economy and employment. Our aim is promoting and enhancing a large range of activities related with the production process (local and typical products, cultural heritage, technical innovation and protection of urban and rural areas) because we believe that they can contribute to the improvement of environmental quality and, at the same time, increase Italy’s competitiveness.
A strong commitment to nature conservation and to the policies of protected areas. Parks and reserve areas must be the first example of sustainable development through the enhancement of tourism and economy without harming nature.
Working groups of Legambiente:
Comitato Scientifico (Scientific Committee) made of more than 200 scientists and technicians. It draws up and carries out analysis and scientific studies on which our environmental proposals of action are based;
Istituto di Ricerche Ambiente Italia (Research Institute for Italy's Environment) that publishes an annual report on Italian environmental conditions;
Osservatorio su Ambiente e Legalità (Observatory for the Environment and the Law) which collects data and information on the links between illegal activities and environmental degradation. Among the actions carried out by the Observatory, it is worth mentioning the fight against 'ecomafia' (a new word coined by Legambiente to indicate all the crimes committed by Mafia which are environmentally hazardous);
Centri di Azione Giuridica (Legal Action Centers) which provides legal aid to people who witnessed land or environmental exploitations and abuses. The committee is made up by Legambiente lawyers;
Centri di Educazione Ambientale (Environmental Education Centers) which promote sustainable development, environmental education and training courses for teachers.
The awareness raising and monitoring national campaigns are among the most important activities of Legambiente: they combine scientific analysis on environmental quality with public awareness and mobilization for the protection of the environment:
Festambiente (International Festival of Ecology and Solidarity) the most important environmental festivals are Festambiente and Festambiente Ragazzi (Festambiente Kids). Festambiente is an ecological kermesse with three open-air organic restaurants (with typical Italian and Mediterranean dishes) and two BIO-Bars with organic products. The ecological city of Legambiente is composed of various areas (“different quarters and squares”…) where you can find cinema (environmental art movies), theatre, workshops, institutional and commercial stands, an Eko-market with organic and natural products, a new age area (with yoga, rebirthing, shiatsu), ateliers for kids, kids’ garden with recycled plastic furniture, excursions in the nature (canoeing, natural park of Maremma, beaches, woods, rivers…), ateliers for adults (handcraft, Mediterranean herbs, natural soaps, natural liqueurs).
Every night relevant political events take place in the debate area. Italian Ministers (Environment, Justice, Social Affairs, etc.), politicians, representatives of NGOs, show men and women and the most important communication media (Rai, Mediaset, Ansa…) participate in these political debates after which the festival schedule continues with concerts of well known Italian singers which attract many young people and families.
To have a complete overview of the eco-city of Festambiente, please visit www.festambiente.it
Goletta Verde (Green Boat): it is the widest analysis and information campaign on marine pollution in the Mediterranean Basin which has ever been promoted and carried out by an environmental organization in a permanent way. Every summer, since 1986, it has monitored the quality of Adriatico, Ionio and Tirreno Seas, for a total number of 6,000 water samples analyzed along 120,000 kms of the Italian coasts;
Legambiente Solidarietà (Legambiente Solidarity): this campaign and branch of Legambiente aims at helping the people facing humanitarian crisis after environmental disasters took place (chemical, nuclear or natural disasters such as downpours, floods, etc.)
The Chernobyl Project is one of the most important projects related with Legambiente Solidarietà (www.legambientesolidarieta.org)
Treno Verde (Green Train): this 'railway version' of Goletta Verde started in 1988 and, since then, has monitored over 200 cities, collecting data on air and noise pollution;
Mal'Aria (Sick Air): many people live in areas in which pollution and traffic are major problems. Through this campaign, we try to raise the awareness of municipalities to enable them to create a better and healthier environment through proper and effective actions. People hang out white sheets from their balconies and windows to express their protest against air and noise pollution. After some days, the sheets change color and turn grey, thus clearly showing the rate of air pollution;
Salvalarte (Save the art): it promotes the safeguard of works of art because Italy is very rich country in architectural monuments which are often unfortunately forgotten and abandoned. This campaign has already analyzed the conditions of over 200 'forgotten' monuments, trying to suggest solutions for their conservation;
Cento Strade per Giocare (One Hundred Streets to Play): it is a day - usually a Sunday in springtime - when boys, girls and children can freely play in the streets without worrying about traffic, cars and pollution. Wide areas of central quarters of the major towns in Italy are closed to traffic where Legambiente organizes games, open air plays, football and tennis matches, street theatre, shows, concerts, bicycle ridings, stands with organic food, etc. The 2000 edition celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Earth Day;
Caccia ai Tesori d'Italia (Hunt for Italy's Treasures): held in springtime, it is a competition aimed at taking people to the most beautiful sites of our cities so that they can get to know them better and love them more;
Puliamo il Mondo (Clean up the World): this well-known campaign which started off in Australia is a day for volunteers to clean up the environment from empty bottles, garbage, etc. In the 2006 edition more than 500,000 people were involved in the cleaning of more than 3,500 sites in 1,300 municipalities;
Spiagge Pulite (Clean-Up the Med Sea Action): a three-day-cleaning up of our beaches in all the Mediterranean Basin: more than 40 countries involved, more than 850 organizations among which municipalities, ecologically sensitive hotel chains, schools and universities. It is organized and coordinated by Legambiente, Grosseto.
Volontariambiente (Volunteers for the Environment): every summer, thousands of volunteers and children spend 'ecological' holidays committing themselves to safeguarding and improving the environment.
The most interesting and important sector of Legambiente is ECOMAFIA Department, studiying, working and fighting against the connection between illegal waste traffic and abuse on the territory and the organized crimanl groups.
Our international projects:
- Swaziland project (project for the elimination of illiteracy and the fight against AIDS in the population of Kamboke and Shewula)
- Chernobyl project (project to support the population and children of Bielorussia)
- project Habana Ecopolis (project of urban qualification of the town of Habana-Cuba)
- project Merp (project of sustainable development in the area of Duzce- Turkey)
- Vivi Amazzonia (project for the elimination of illiteracy in the area of Novo Airao)
- Water: a right for all
- Clean up the Med Sea Action
- Mediterranean Diversity (network of Mediterranean Festival)
- European Environmental Network (EEN)
- Every Day Ecology (communication’s campaign for the citizen about ecologic behaviors)
- The Mediterranean: a sea which connects, a sea which must live (Interreg III A project with Tuscany Sardinia and Corsica for the safeguard and the promotion of the marine and coastal ecosystem)
- E-polis, Green Network Campaign : social citizenship related to ecological issue (European Green Party)