NGO ECOSOUTHWEST HISTORY AND ACTIVITY Regional Movement Ecosouthwest was established in September Regional Movement Ecosouthwest was established in September The organization is active at the national level on the subjects of: The organization is active at the national level on the subjects of: Water Management (www.bluelink.net/water); Genetically Modified Organisms (www.bluelink.net/gmo). INTRDUCTION At the regional level Ecosouthwest operates actively also on the issues of: At the regional level Ecosouthwest operates actively also on the issues of: Environmental Education; Waste Management; Sustainable Regional Development. Ecosouthwest is actived in youth projects and actions and has participated in national and international environmental campaigns anti- nuclear, global ban of GM-trees and etc. Ecosouthwest is actived in youth projects and actions and has participated in national and international environmental campaigns anti- nuclear, global ban of GM-trees and etc. INTRDUCTION The experts of Ecosouthwest: The experts of Ecosouthwest: Give attitudes about new plans, programs, objects and legislations; Prepare municipalities programs for environment protection; Write ecological projects; Make publications. INTRDUCTION Ecosouthwest is a member of: Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED); Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED); Global Water Partnership (GWP); Global Water Partnership (GWP); Citizens United for Renewable Energy and Sustainability(CURES); Citizens United for Renewable Energy and Sustainability(CURES); CEEweb for Biodiversity; CEEweb for Biodiversity; Associated partner organization of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE). Associated partner organization of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE).INTRDUCTION ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGN The national campaign started in The national campaign started in T hanks to the financial support from the JMG Foundation and the assistance of Iza Kruszewska (ANPED), NGO Ecosouthwest, realized its Anti-Genetic Engineering Strategy, and achieved the results below: T hanks to the financial support from the JMG Foundation and the assistance of Iza Kruszewska (ANPED), NGO Ecosouthwest, realized its Anti-Genetic Engineering Strategy, and achieved the results below: Thanks to the media involvement, a public discussion was launched; ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGN National research concerning spread of GM food and crops, and film, explicitly proved that the reality is different than the official position: GE maize harvest was not bought back by the distributors of seeds and it remained in the country, buffer zones were not kept, GE crops was not stored in separated stores and this way was not segregated from non GE crops; The parliament refused three GMOs Law-proposals and now Bulgaria has maybe the most restrictive GMOs law in Europe. ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGN A Regulation for labeling of genetically modified soya and maize entered into force in July 2001; Bulgaria ratified the Biosafety Protocol; Nine Bulgarian NGOs created an anti-GE group; Bulgarian Government stopped financing and banned genetic experiments with tobacco and grapes; ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGN ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGN ANTI-GMOs CAMPAIGNRegions where was cultivated GM maize WATER MANAGEMENT The activities of Ecosouthwest are orientated towards: The activities of Ecosouthwest are orientated towards: Improvement of the relationship and collaboration; An expert group of professionals - representatives of different institutions, businesses and NGOs; WATER MANAGEMENT We pay specific attention to youth and implemented some actions with them in order to solve some environmental problems at the upper stretches of the rivers Struma and Mesta. The first street campaign under the slogan Water Partnership was implemented in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Pernik and Dupnitsa. To this end a specific brochure under the title Water Partnership was published. 15,000 copies were printed, distributed and young people have made investigation among the 685 inhabitants of Southwestern Bulgaria. WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT WASTE MANAGEMENT In 1999 Ecosouthwest submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Blagoevgrad to introduce a new organization of urban waste collection and disposal. With its offer the municipality has saved about USD 100,000. In 1999 Ecosouthwest submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Blagoevgrad to introduce a new organization of urban waste collection and disposal. With its offer the municipality has saved about USD 100,000. Together with the Municipality of Blagoevgrad and the environmental club Terra we implemented a project for split collection of ash from other types of urban waste in one residential district of Blagoevgrad. Together with the Municipality of Blagoevgrad and the environmental club Terra we implemented a project for split collection of ash from other types of urban waste in one residential district of Blagoevgrad. PROJECTS FOR 15 YEARS 29 PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED The main topics of the projects were: The main topics of the projects were: - Protection childrens health; - Raise citizens and specially farmers knowledge about GMOs food and crops; - Lobbing for good GMOs legislation; - Water management; - Waste management; - Environment protection, and etc. PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Regional Movement Ecosouthwest realized this project in partnership with the Municipality Nevestino, Kustendil district. The project received financial support from the EU Program Youth in Action and was implemented in the villages Smolichano and Nevestino. Participants were junior high school students from the municipality Nevestino, students from Southwestern University Blagoevgrad and members of Ecosouthwest Regional Movement Ecosouthwest realized this project in partnership with the Municipality Nevestino, Kustendil district. The project received financial support from the EU Program Youth in Action and was implemented in the villages Smolichano and Nevestino. Participants were junior high school students from the municipality Nevestino, students from Southwestern University Blagoevgrad and members of Ecosouthwest PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Smolichano is a small village with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Smolichano is a small village with a rich cultural and historical heritage. The main goals of the project was to inform young people for European citizenship and to raise their self- awareness and motivation for environment protection and sustainable development. The duration of the project was 3 months. The final outcomes were: The main goals of the project was to inform young people for European citizenship and to raise their self- awareness and motivation for environment protection and sustainable development. The duration of the project was 3 months. The final outcomes were: PROJECTS EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - CLEN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Was published advertising leaflets for the region where the project was realized; Was prepared a new project proposal to the program Youth in Action as an extension of this project; The projects participants enhanced their European self-awareness; We published the projects information on the Ecosouthwests web site. PROJECTS PROJECTS PROJECTS WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE In 2006 NGO Gruener Grashalm, Germany and Ecosouthwest implemented this project. About 40 participants from 17 28 years old 13 days lived in tents next to village Kashina, Sandanski municipality. Kashina is situated in Pirin mountain. About 20 years ago there have lived 800 habitants and now are 6. In 2006 NGO Gruener Grashalm, Germany and Ecosouthwest implemented this project. About 40 participants from 17 28 years old 13 days lived in tents next to village Kashina, Sandanski municipality. Kashina is situated in Pirin mountain. About 20 years ago there have lived 800 habitants and now are 6. PROJECTS PROJECTS WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE WHERE IS THE ROAD TO EUROPE The main goal of this project was to provoke young people of thinking how they can help according to their vision and imagination for the regions conservation and development. The main goal of this project was to provoke young people of thinking how they can help according to their vision and imagination for the regions conservation and development. The participants were divided in two groups and: The participants were divided in two groups and: PROJECTS 1. They made some activities to improve living condition of local people: 1. They made some activities to improve living condition of local people: Gathered a huge quantity garbage; Gathered a huge quantity garbage; Recovered an old village oven; Recovered an old village oven; 2. They participated in: Lectures about EU and ecotourism, and discussions; Lectures about EU and ecotourism, and discussions; Marches in Pirin mountain; Marches in Pirin mountain; A lot of sports and entertainment games and talks; A lot of sports and entertainment games and talks; PROJECTS PROJECTS KALIN ANASTASOV