Winners Announced: World Environment Day Awards 2011
UNAA VIC – 03 June 2011
The United Nations Association of Australia today announces the winners of this year’s World Environment Day Awards.
Winners were announced at the Awards Presentation Dinner held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Friday 3 June, 2011. This gala event was hosted by Mark Davis, Presenter, SBS Dateline.
The new Peter Szental Award for Sustainability Entrepreneurship, launched this year in memory of Peter Szental, leading entrepreneur in sustainability and tireless champion of environmental causes, went to the WestWyck Ecovillage. This urban development model, created on the principle of building a village within a city, is now home to more than 30 people in Brunswick West. The project is a market leader for having embedded sustainability principles in its business model as well as its thoughtful use of resources, energy efficiency, generation of renewable energy and comprehensive water management.
Awards were presented across 16 categories to individuals, schools, community groups, businesses and local governments, highlighting top environmental initiatives and programs across Australia.
Amidst strong competition the new Sustainability Education Award was won by the Heyfield Community Resource Centre for their ‘Sustainable Smart Town Project’ which encouraged behavioural change and a commitment to sustainable living. Residents and businesses promoted their positive actions through a unique flag system: flying from rooftops across the town, these coloured flags are a source of community pride. The flags sparked curiosity amongst visitors and provided an incentive for change, complimenting the Resource Centre’s provision of practical, convenient and timely information on environmentally sustainable services and products, as well as rebates and subsidies available from both state and federal governments.
The Biodiversity Award was won by the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation’s ‘Yellow Crazy Ant Management Program.’ Dhimurru have successfully eradicated the Yellow Crazy Ant, one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world, from over 21 sites in Arnhem Land over the last 5 years. This program has set new international standards for invasive species’ management.
Striving to make a significant difference to Australian greenhouse gas emissions by targeting inefficient older fridges and permanently removing them from the electricity network, Fridge Buyback in NSW was awarded the Business Award for Best Specific Environmental Initiative. Equally impressive was ethical clothing company 3Fish, the winner of the Sustainability Leadership Award for Small and Medium Organisations and Bentleigh Secondary College, winner of the Excellence in Sustainable Water Management Award.
The District Council of Mount Barker won the Local Government Award for Best Specific Environmental Initiative. Established in the early 1990s, the Laratinga Wetland saves 900 mega litres of water per year and recycles 25% of Mt Barker’s annual wastewater. The 12 hectares of lagoons and ponds are also a haven for local wildlife and residents alike.
Having been named finalists in three categories, the Kimberley Toad Busters took out the Community Award for their ‘What’s in Your Backyard? Project. Nearly 80 years since the introduction of the Cane Toad into Australia, the Kimberley Toad Busters are not only slowing the rate of toads as they advance towards the Kimberley, but are also empowering community members to gather important research data.
Established in 2000, the Awards Program is now in its 12th year and continues to acknowledge action taken at a local level to address global environmental issues.
Security Council highlights role of UN peace missions in global AIDS response
07 June 2011
The Security Council today underlined the continuing need for urgent and coordinated global action to curb the impact of HIV and AIDS in conflict and post-conflict situations, while recognizing the important role United Nations peacekeeping operations can play in responding to the epidemic.
World food prices set to remain high into next year, says UN report
08 June 2011
Citing dwindling stocks and only small production increases for the majority of crops, a new United Nations report released today says world food prices are likely to remain high for the rest of this year and into 2012.
Model UN students hope to focus global attention on crucial issues
10 June 2011
An upcoming model United Nations meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea, can help contribute to the debate on key world issues, one of the student leaders at the event told a news conference today at UN Headquarters.
Cutting smog and soot could have fast and broad benefits – UN-backed report
14 June 2011
Fast and relatively short-term action to curb soot and smog could improve human health, generate higher crop yields, reduce climate change and slow the melting of the Arctic, according to a United Nations-backed study released today.
UN agencies urge renewed efforts to end practice of ‘son preference’
14 June 2011
Five United Nations agencies have banded together to call for urgently addressing gender-biased sex selection favouring boys, a common practice in many parts of South, East and Central Asia that they say fuels a culture of discrimination and violence.
More must be done to overcome obstacles in providing aid – UN official
15 June 2011
Aid workers and peacekeepers face a range of security and logistical challenges as they assist the most vulnerable, but there are steps they can take to improve the plight of those in need, a senior United Nations relief official stressed today.
Global effort leads to increase in female UN police worldwide
16 June 2011
More and more countries are getting behind a United Nations initiative designed to boost the number of female police serving in peace operations, with women now accounting for just over 10 per cent of the more than 14,000 officers deployed worldwide, a senior official said today.
Security Council recommends re-appointment of UN Secretary-General
21 June 2011
The Security Council announced today that it is recommending to the General Assembly that Ban Ki-moon be appointed to a second consecutive term as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
General Assembly appoints Ban Ki-moon to second term as UN Secretary-General
21 June 2011
The United Nations General Assembly today agreed to appoint Ban Ki-moon to a second consecutive term as the Secretary-General of the 192-member Organization.
UN issues new guidelines to protect men who have sex with men from HIV
21 June 2011
The United Nations and its partners have issued the first-ever global public health guidelines to help scale up services to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and transgender people.
States must take effective measures to prevent torture – UN chief
26 June 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today exhorted States to take effective legislative, administrative and judicial measures to prevent torture, calling the practice a brutal attempt to destroy a victim's sense of dignity and sense of human worth that can never be justified
UN agency kicks off women’s empowerment campaign at soccer’s World Cup
27 June 2011
As the world’s best soccer teams face off in Germany for the Women’s World Cup, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is using the event to spotlight the need to empower women to play leading roles in daily life, from the home to the school to the workplace.
United Nations envoy in Africa calls for mobilization of youth for development
27 June 2011
A top-ranking United Nations official in Africa has called for a mobilization of the continent’s youth for sustainable development, suggesting that the recent turmoil in North Africa may be linked to high rates of unemployment among youth, their desire for freedom, and their demands for change.