International Black Sea Action Day is a regional event designed to assist all Black Sea countries and coastal communities in celebrating their shared marine environment. It is a collaborative effort among all the regional organizations, NGOs, national government agencies and coastal municipalities working together to protect this important shared resource. Its main objective is to promote the urgent need for greater regional cooperation against the threats facing the Black Sea, and raise public awareness of these threats, ranging from pollution and poorly regulated fishing to unsustainable coastal development.
International Black Sea Action Day serves to raise public awareness of this unique heritage and to make us stop for a moment and ask ourselves "What have I done to protect the Black Sea? Is that enough?”
Every year the Black Sea day is celebrated through various activities in the Black Sea countries, as a display of the commitment of the people to preserving this unique natural heritage, passed on from past generations, acknowedging its importance for future generations.
While celebrating this day all together, we must also remember once again that one day is not enough to commemorate the Black Sea, which is not only one of the most important ecosystems of the world, but also a great economic resource for the millions of people living around it in six different countries. Our hope is that all these countries constantly increase their cooperation and enhance their partnership to protect and maintain this joint heritage.
[Gallery of the celebrations in 2007]
[information will be published soon]
Within the frame of EU funded project Environmental Collaboration for the Black Sea there is a workshop in Batumi for stakeholders and NGOs from Georgia coast region concerning Black Sea Day. The meeting will encompass the following topics:
see agenda here
Activities developed by NGO Mare Nostrum Constantza, Romania
Already a tradition for the photographic art and sea lovers, “The Future of the Black Sea” National Photography Contest expects from its participants the best photos realised at the sea shore, that promote at the same time the social and ecological responsability towards the marine environment.
This year, the contest is divided in 4 sections, coresponding to the 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
This contest encourages journalists to approach themes related to the romanian sea shore, to promote the beauties of the Black Sea, the landscapes and biodiversity and the actions meant to protect them.
As the initiator of the public campaigns dedicated to the Black Sea Action Day in Constantza, NGO Mare Nostrum decided to support the actions that schools conduct to celebrate this day, by awarding the most original, creative and with the most impact activity, considering that in the last years the number of schools that enterprise this kind of activities has increased considerably.
With the help of the schools in Constantza County, NGO Mare Nostrum monitorized the Black Sea shore, considering physical and chemical parameters and the types of waste encountered on the beach. The report will be compared with the one realised in Spring and presented to the competent authorities in the field.
This activity represents a demonstrative action for sensitizing the citizens regarding the waste that they find on the beach and its negative impact on us, all. There will be presented 2 stands, one containing wrapped up waste that the participants at the event will be able to buy for a symbolic sum and the other containing materials that promote and inform people about the endangered species in the Black Sea (brochures, DVD’s, backpacks, calendars, key chains etc.).
In the seaside cities activities similar to last year's will be and are being conducted: the clean-beach actions, round tables, competitions on the Black Sea themes.
In Krasnodar - at the Kuban State University (Geography faculty)
In Anapa - at University of Tourism and Resort Business: student's readings " The Black sea at the centre of events ". We want to mention not only ecological, but also geopolitical and economic aspects. The BS city event will be at support of resort association.
In Novorossiysk - some events at support of administration of city are being organized.
TURKEY
[information will be published soon]
UKRAINE
Several activities organized in commemoration of the Black Sea day 2008. In Ukraine the celebration of this activity is linked to the preparation for the Ministerial Meeting. Several "Round Table" meetings are being organized as well as traditional activities with children - Festival.
The topic of Black Sea lessons was achieved all this time - several tachers are working on adaptation and improvement of materials of Black Sea Study Pack.
In Odessa there must little mass media campaigh - TV-shots onsome television channels.
