The Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea presented the environmental awareness plan developed by the Government for the current year at the Velas Secondary School on Thursday.
 
As he revealed, the plan includes nine major activities, covering all Azorean islands and as well as the actions taken by third parties that wish to join the messages disseminated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea.

These nine areas include an education campaign on waste, the “Eco-freguesia, freguesia limpa” (Eco-village, clean village) contest, the “Eco-escola” (Eco-school) and the “Açores Entre-Mares” (Azores Between Seas) programmes, the “SOS Cagarro” (SOS Corey’s Shearwater) Campaign, the world days of the environmental calendar, the eradication of invasive organisms, Natural Parks and other initiatives.

Speaking at the occasion, Álamo Meneses stressed the importance of the social and comprehensive dynamics for the sustainable development of the archipelago, emphasising that “in order in think in environmental terms, we must be in possession of the adequate information to take the best decisions.”

“We cannot keep feeding dogmas or hesitations that have little to do with the environment when it clearly needs action and even, in some cases, recovery actions,” stressed the Regional Secretary.

With this plan, the Government expects to increase the information level of citizens regarding environmental issues, especially in the area of Waste, enhance the natural heritage of the archipelago, raise awareness for the preservation of natural resources with special emphasis on the rational use of water and promote change in attitudes and behaviours in order to promote the awareness, activity and participation of citizens.

As Álamo Meneses stressed to the students from the aforementioned school establishment “we need to take several actions, based on a strong knowledge and an intelligent rationality.”

The operational organisation of the programmes will be carried out by the Regional Government through the Regional Network of “Ecotecas” (Environmental Awareness Raising Centres), which will interact with different governmental departments, schools, non-governmental environmental organisations, other associations, authorities and those who are interested in boosting the activities that support knowledge, sensitivity and the subsequent action to improve the environment in the Azores.
 
This year, emphasis will be given to waste management, stressing that the proper final destination, which reduces the environmental risk and enhances the economic value, can only achieved if all members of society cooperate.