Children of the Earth
Czech Republic
Project No. 20569: Children of the Earth's Center for Citizens' Support
Background
Children of the Earth was founded in 1989 as an independent non-profit citizen's association with the aim of improving the state of the environment. Its prime goals are the preservation of nature and landscape, the environmental education of children and young people, the fostering of activity by environmental specialists, and the promotion of public endeavors to preserve environmental quality. Although its central office is in Prague, Children of the Earth has numerous sections, clubs and local branches that pursue independent activities throughout the country. The Center for Citizens' Support, to be established by this project, will also act as an independent body, offering services primarily to other civic groups.
Project Goals
- To increase public awareness of both environmental issues and the legal framework of environmental protection
- To establish a network of local groups and NGOs and assist their activities by providing them with necessary information and legal assistance
Objectives
- Establishment of the Children of the Earth Center for Citizens' Support to strengthen public participation in the Czech Republic
- Promoting the work of citizen groups by providing up-to-date advice, as well as by sharing experience and contacts
Amount Awarded
9,125 ECU
Implementation
A working group was set up according to the original plan involving the key people assigned to work on the project, and tasks were distributed among them.
Electronic databases were developed mainly for use by the working team. Due to a software copyright, the computer files cannot be freely distributed. Consequently, printed databases were distributed to NGOs. The databases are available at the regional offices as well.
Few requests have come in from NGOs for use of the planned library, so its development is, at least initially, not a high priority. The established library was used more by inside experts than by citizens or NGOs.
The center's Public Relations Department used various tools to help citizen groups and local authorities convey issues of concern to them to the media, and this met with success in numerous instances. These included articles in local and regional newspapers, leaflets, press releases and press conferences. The electronic media were involved as well by preparing TV and radio broadcasts about certain environmental problems.
The exhibition Marquee for Life was set up in three towns during the project. Among the topics presented were highway by-passes, dam construction and waste incineration.
The seminar Public Participation was organized in late May 1996 with the participation of representatives from 15 citizen groups. The two main goals of the seminar were fulfilled (namely, to share experience with concerned citizen groups and to help grassroots groups pool their efforts in a functioning network). Mayors who have been active in the field of public participation and EIA were invited as well in order to discuss four hot issues:
- environmental law;
- campaigns;
- public relations;
- cooperation and networking.
Members of the Center also took part in other seminars organized for NGOs.
The brochure Public Participation has not yet been published, but it is under preparation and will be used as working material for future seminars organized by the Center.
The Center commented on the new Waste Management Act and is preparing comment on new EIA legislation as part of its legislation-monitoring activities.
Involvement by the Center for Citizens' Support helped block funding for a planned dam in the Vesec Valley, which houses valuable natural areas.
Target Groups
Active citizen groups, NGOs, mayors and local authorities, ministerial and parliamentary representatives, journalists and specialists in various fields that touch upon environmental issues.
Relationship with NGOs, the Public and the Government
The Center developed a good working relationship with many citizen groups and NGOs engaged in solving environmental problems and assisted them in several instances to fully or partially validate their interests in legal proceedings. Legal help and assistance was provided by the working group in several cases. Invitations to comment on draft versions of new legislation have, meanwhile, resulted from cooperation with various levels of government administration.
Lessons
Major Problems
The Center's limited capacity hindered the extent of the services it was able to provide. On the other hand, many NGOs have yet to appreciate the importance of validating their interests by way of legal proceedings. The Czech government's relative ignorance as to interests of villages and communities marked yet another problem, and this resulted in a loss of numerous potential initiatives. It has turned out there is a need for coalition among environmentally oriented groups in order to realize the common needs and tasks and to teach them how to cooperate with each other. Many NGOs didn't see the impact of the cooperation and were not willing to take part in seminars or be involved in common actions or activities.
Major Successes
The establishment of a network of local groups, along with precepts governing their cooperation (e.g., advocacy or the sharing of experience) was a major success. Furthermore, an increasing number of activists from Children of the Earth and other citizen groups are amassing experience in environmental advocacy as a result of the project. The number of environmental NGOs increased as well. The Center has succeeded in creating an environmental public advisory service that can be easily contacted by citizens and civil organizations.
Overall Evaluation
The project helped bolster the capacity of the Czech environmental movement and its effectiveness in solving environmental problems by way of legal instruments. This was clearly demonstrated in the cases won or otherwise resolved with the help of the Center. In addition, environmentalists, citizens and NGOs became more concerned about the necessity of public advocacy services as a useful way of promoting public participation in environmental problems.
Sample Case
Liberec-Vesec
This case involves a controversial plan to build a dam in a valley that houses valuable natural areas. The Center has helped in the decisionmaking process by promoting public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), public hearings, the development of relevant environmental law and other aspects of the matter in the following ways:
- helping establish a Civic Association;
- taking requisite measures after the EIA process (e.g., drafting necessary letters and lobbying the local government of the City of Liberec);
- soliciting expert opinions on the planned dam.
The Center has also been instrumental in the related public relations effort by having articles published in journals and newspapers, issuing press releases, holding a press conference in Liberec on Jan. 26, assuring that the issue was discussed in a popular TV program and by incorporating the issue into the exhibit Marquee for Life.
As a result of this effort on various fronts, the company planning to build the dam, AKVA KB., has encountered serious difficulties in obtaining funds from banks. The company has lost more than a year, and the issue has not even reached the first stage of the decisionmaking process.
Contact
- Jindrich Petrulik
- Children of the Earth
- Slavy Hornika 4
- 150 00 Praha 5
- Czech Republic
- Tel/fax: (42-2) 527-123
REC * PUBLICATIONS * ADVISING CITIZENS * CZECH REPUBLIC
