By informing, motivating and raising awareness through a range of different media, the project `Protection of the environment - the task and all of everyone` aims to change the way Slovenian people think about environmental protection.
"In modern society, progress and development is often linked only to economic goals," said project consultant Aleš Lavrič. "But to be able to ensure sustainable development, we all have to recognise that we are responsible for our surroundings. All our actions contribute to the improvement or deterioration of the environment."
Through a positive, hands-on approach, issues relating to environmental protection are introduced to people in a fresh and innovative manner. "We try to catch the momentum of climate-change awareness, and support it to grow into every walk of life, making environmental protection 'trendy'," said Lavrič.
In order to reach out to as many people as possible, the project attempts to make information accessible to people of all ages, locations, occupations and backgrounds. Through organised clean-up events, websites, brochures, articles, informal events and TV shows, the project promoter 'My Neighbourhood' hopes to spread their message across Slovenia. One of its popular activities is workshops for young people, organised in a multimedia bus. The bus hosts interactive activities and entertainment, with performers, teachers and ecological experts offering young people the opportunity to get a fun introduction to a serious topic.
Simultaneously, the project puts pressure on large organisations and companies in order to change their attitudes to the environment. Using positive awareness campaigns, governmental agencies and businesses are encouraged to recycle waste and use more environmentally friendly material.
"Through this awareness-raising we hope to be able to influence the people of Slovenia, and improve environmental protection, both on individual and company level," Lavrič concluded.