Our Baltic Sea

Hilkka Vahervuori

Soroptimist International of Finland

NGO

Finland

www.soroptimistit.fi

Hilkka Vahervuori

hilkka.vahervuoriREMOVETHISCAPITALTEXT[at]kolumbus.fi

+358505531480

Hilkka Vahervuori

hilkka.vahervuoriREMOVETHISCAPITALTEXT[at]kolumbus.fi

+358505531480

Kivensyrjä 8A
02760 Espoo

Our Baltic Sea

Contribution

To raise environmental awareness among the members of the Soroptimist organisations in the Baltic Sea catchment area.

SI of Finland has committed to participate in the programme to save the Baltic Sea. We cannot accomplish enough alone. We can do much more by working together with other Soroptimist unions and clubs around the Baltic Sea in this programme. SI of Finland proposes that SI Unions and Clubs around the Baltic Sea Area will commit to the European Federation’s theme “Soroptimists go for Water” by joining the programme to save the Baltic Sea. This is a suitable programme for women’s organisation, because in families, women normally make decisions about household products that are used, and other activities.

The Finnish Minister of Agriculture Sirkka-Liisa Anttila has promised to be a patroness of our programme

Goals:
* We are aware of the state of the Baltic Sea and we deliver actively the information further
* We actively look for measures to avoid polluting the water
* We especially get women and children committed to save the clean water
* We are working together with other unions and clubs inthe Baltic Sea area to find measures to prevent further pollution of the Baltic Sea

How to do it?
* The clubs will have one theme in their meetings about the Baltic Sea
* We have prepared a list of less polluting household chemicals and distributed it to other organisations in Finland
* The list will be updated e.g. with regard to household products containing hazardous substances when more information will be available.
* The other Unions could work to prepare a list of less polluting household chemicals marketed in their own countries and deliver it to other voluntary organizations
* The clubs can make their own anniversary donations to the organizations for “Clean the Baltic Sea” projects.
* We would try to affect as much as possible, the local decision makers to make decisions and take action to help to keep our lakes and rivers clean, and thereby reduce emissions to the Baltic Sea.
* SI of Finland will prepare a slide show about “Clean the Baltic Sea” on the web site. SI of Finland is willing to help other Unions to do same.

The work started in Finland in 2007 will be expanded to the Baltic, Polish, German and Russian unisons in 2010.

Awareness Raising

permanent

Continous support

All Baltic Sea States

Soroptimist International Unions around the Baltic Sea.

Medium effort

2010 March 1^st

other

4 years

SI of Finland Union Meeting and Board Meeting in May 2010

2010 May 21^th

First milesstone:
In the SI of Finland Union Meeting and Board Meeting in May 2010 we reported the progress in our project.
* We have donated the funds the clubs have raised to BSAG
* One of the clubs had an exhibition about the situation in Baltic Sea
* On the Union level we have started the discussion about the ways to do co-operation with Martat organisation.
* There has been 2 articles in our Soroptimist magazine about Baltic Sea and our programme
* The Union has sent letters to the Unions around the Baltic Sea and we will start the co-operation with some Unions
* We have prepared slides about out Baltic Sea programme and they are seen in our web pages.

SI of Finland Union Meeting and Board Meeting in May 2011

2011 May 20^th

1. Co-operation has started with at least some other clubs around the Baltic Sea
2. Co-operation with Martat has started
3. Articles in our own Soroptimist paper
4. Baltic Sea Day with happenings and presentations