A C H I E V E M E N T S
Information Exchange
Effective action to solve environmental problems requires accurate and timely information. The Regional Environmental Center's Information Exchange Team collects and disseminates useful environmental information, answers questions about the environment in Central and Eastern Europe, and promotes cooperation among the people who want information and the people who have it. In 1994 the Information Exchange Program focused on three areas: improving the RECÕs library and information service, producing informative publications on Regional environmental issues, and facilitating electronic access to REC products.
Library/Information Service
The REC greatly improved its question-and-answer service in 1994 by providing more detailed responses and by increasing the response speed. In total, the REC answered 252 detailed information requests about the environment in Central and Eastern Europe from around the world. The REC has access to multiple resources for collecting information: its collection of more than 2000 books and pamphlets in its head office library, twenty-five CD-ROMS, in-house databases, and full Internet access. The REC's information specialists and librarians personally assist and counsel government officials, students, journalists, and researchers on how to make a request and how to understand environmental information. As part of the library service, the REC cooperated in Regional book-sharing by distributing more than 150 extra copies of books to twelve libraries and five NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe.
LADISLAV PTACEK (Czech Republic)
speaks to Dalibor Kyslea of the REC's head office.
Publications
The REC published two directories in 1994 to facilitate direct contact and cooperation. The first-ever Government and Environment directory, a directory of Central and Eastern European government agencies with environmental management responsibilities, lists names, telephone and fax numbers, and responsibilities for ministries of the environment and other government agencies in ten countries of the Region. The REC also published the second edition of the NGO Directory for Central and Eastern Europe. This directory lists almost 1700 environmental non-government organizations in fourteen Central and Eastern European countries, indexing them by city, country, name (English and national language), and work priority. Such details promote information sharing and helps build partnerships.
The publication of grant project summaries was another part of the REC's drive to foster more Regional cooperation. By giving brief descriptions of completed projects, the REC presents a cross-section of the types of grassroots environmental projects that have been implemented in Central and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, Grant Project Summaries enables potential grant applicants to contact groups that it had previously funded in order to learn what worked and what failed. The REC's quarterly English-language newsletter, The Bulletin, not only provided regular updates on REC programs and services, it also shared news on environmental developments significant to Central and Eastern Europe. The REC's local offices also participated in disseminating important information through their local-language editions of The Bulletin. Wherever possible, contact information is provided after articles in order to facilitate direct contact between readers.
LIDIJA GLOBEVNIK (Slovenia)
shares a word with
MAGDALENA HESKOVA (Slovak Republic)
during the REC's conference on cooperation in the Region.
Media Resource Service
The REC initiated its Media Resource Service in 1994, a service that provides journalists with important environmental information. Having well-informed journalists is important because of their role in shaping public opinion. The Media Resource Service consists of two parts: a referral service for journalists who need authoritative sources of information, and a monthly newsletter for environmental journalists. By giving story ideas, by showing recent statistics on the state of the environment, and by presenting opportunities for international cooperation such as fellowships and conferences, the Regional Environmental Center's Media Resource Service enhances people's ability to understand Regional environmental issues and enhances their ability to cooperate with each other.
CHUCK LANKESTER
of the United Nations Development Program gives his opinion of electronic communication in Central and Eastern Europe.
Electronic Access
Publications were not the only means for the Regional Environmental Center to spread information. The REC became an Internet host in 1994, allowing it full access to this vast computer network. The REC made five of its thirteen publications produced in 1994 available for on-line searches through Internet. The REC's directory was accessed 6344 times between July and December. The REC opened an e-mail link with its Bratislava office; and it established an open electronic discussion list about environmental issues in the Region: 208 people subscribed to this list between September and December 1994. All of these activities will be continued and enlarged in 1995.
Through these initiatives, the Regional Environmental Center hopes to increase direct communication, to enlarge people's access to information, and to advance understanding of Regional environmental priorities. The REC believes that greater understanding will catalyze people to work together to solve environmental problems.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER * ANNUAL REPORT 1994