Armenia

Aa r h us

http://www.aarhus.am

Centers Network
In this number
Congratulatory message to the

ambassador of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Reporting to the public

Civic actions for environment and security

Dear Mr. Ambassador Sergey Kapinos,

Since taking over the position of the ambassador of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, you have taken a significant work of Aarhus and civil society development process in Armenia, as well as for our country and our people change for the better. We had a long way together with you both for the processes of our centers establishment and the struggle to survive. And this was not easy, as it required a lot of daily hard work and efforts, and you were always with us in order to support and protect us.

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND HELP, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING AND BELIEVING US
Due to your support, we try to overcome many difficulties, to put forward and implement new initiatives, to promote the development of democracy in our country, to establish a dialogue between society and government, to raise the level of environmental education, transparent management of natural resources, and preservation of historical monuments. Be sure that the sprouts of civil society inseminated by you are in reliable hands. We shall continue to do whatever we believe in the whole power of our soul for the sake of our country's prosperity and democratization. We are glad for those, who will work with us. Your commitment to the human development ideals and love towards people will give their fruits. We shall never forget you. We express our gratitude to you for the joint work and gained achievements and are confident that you, perhaps in the other position, will remain our partner and sincere friend. With warm wishes, RA Aarhus Centers Network

When I was younger I wanted to reform the world, when I was a mature man, I wanted to change my country, when I grew up, I wanted to reform my family, but only dying I understood that I should have changed myself, and as a result, my family, country and world will change too Winston Churchill.
Semi-annual report of Aarhus centers in Armenia in 2011 The Aarhus centers serving as a link between the Governmental and non-governmental organizations in the sphere of environmental policy making informs the public on global, regional, local ecological problems and promote their involvement in decision-making process. The centers carry out the collection of information, provide and distribute it upon request among the interested parties, thus promoting access to ecological information. In order to make more information available to the public, informative seminars, eco educational events, press conferences, presentations, practical work (tree planting, land cleaning, etc.), round tables, public discussions and such other events were held with the involvement and participation of interested parties. This contributes to the process of improving the management of environmental issues, promotes transparency and democracy. The AaCs inform the interested public on the drafts of the normative acts reffering to the environment and the public hearings on ecological expertise drafts (if possible, they give an opprtunity to get acquainted with the draft beforehand) and support the corresponding bodies to hold public hearings thus promoting public participation in environmental decision-making processes.

In 2011the number of the Aarhus Centers in Armenia has completed with one more. The 15th Aarhus Centre was opened in the town of Ararat, which started its activities on February 21. Hrazdan and Idjevan Aarhus Centers filled up the staff with new employees by competitive examination. Centers coordinators have formed annual working plans, which are discussed and approved by the boards of experts of the centers. The AaC working plans are drawn up taking into account the region's ecological problems and are in line with the socio-economic development of regions and environmental action projects included in community development programs. The AaCs activities are arranged according to the annual working program, based on the Memorandum of Understanding and the rules and regulations of the Centre, as well as the road map developed for
implementation of the AaCs Strategic Action Plan 2011. The AaCs working plans for 2011 have been prepared in principle as follows: data collection, carrying out surveys with relevant responsible structures ,dealing with the priority issues, informing and involving stakeholders, presentation of motions to relevant bodies refers to solving the problems

The plans include also other works.

During the semi-annual period of 2011 the following events were implemented on the initiative of the centers by the above mentioned directions.

Seminars and ecoeducational discussions Round table discussions Public hearings Environmental actions Workshops Total

302 (participants 10684) 103(participants 1724) 10(participants 217) 34(participants 1398) 140 474 (participants 14254)

The implemented events according to the centers and the total number

Compared with the previous years first semi-year

2010 first semi-year. 2011 first semi-year.

Total Public discussions

418 (participants 9520) 55

474 (participants 14254) 103

AaCs are considered as resource centers and provide free services, the centers have rich library and filmoteque, provide copying services, internet, telephone, fax and the most important thing is providing information and advice.

During the months January June, 2011on the initiative of 15 Aarhus Centers of Armenia in total 302 awareness rasing seminars, 103 round-table discussions, 10 public hearings, 34 environmental events, and 140 working meetings have been held. As a result of each event (including public hearings), proposals have been submitted to the relevant authorities for solving the problem. During the reporting period on the initiatives and support of the15 Aarhus Centers in Armenia 474 events were held with the participation of 14254 people.

In comparison with the first half of the last year the number of events has been increased (418/9520). Taking into account that the number of centers was added with one more, however, the growth is observed. In comparison with 2010 the number of awareness raising seminars and events are almost the same, but instead the number of round-table discussions has increased, instead of 55 - at the half year of 2010, 103 public discussions were held in the first half year of 2011. Consistently the number of participants in public debates has increased, which proves that more people are involved in discussion process referring to environmental issues.

Aarhus Centers receive support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan, which provide not only the employees' salaries, but also supports the latter in professional qualification issues. With the OSCE assistance coordinators are taking part in various seminars and training courses, which upgrade their knowledge and skills.

AaCs actively cooperate with NGOs, local municipalities, international, governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with environmental issues, representatives of scientific, business and public sectors, especially with the weekly newspaper Hetq, where near 240 environmental articles were printed. Joint events are organized; coordinators of the centers participate in the events organized by other organizations, as well as provide venues and offer logistical support to the events implemented by other organizations. AaCs are in close interaction with each other and the above stated organizations via electronic and social networks. In the social network Facebook have formed the group "Aarhus Centers of Armenia", which includes the all AaCs and members of several organizations which are in close interaction with the centers regarding with the exchange of information

http://www.facebook.com/groups/165027143523135/ http://www.facebook.com/groups/192908217398603/?id=228 431633846261&notif_t=like

The network contributes to the elucidation of the centers activity, communication between the centers and with other extended fields, exchange of experience, acquisition of information, the centers advertisement. The
sources of information exchange and dissemination are the website www.aarhus.am and AaCs the electronic network. During the reporting period the content and design of the website has also been changed.

And the Aarhus Centers electronic paper is being developed and disseminated via different electronic networks, where the most important and prominent events implemented by the centers are included. During the reporting period 3 papers (January-February, March-April and May-June) have been disseminated and the fourth (July-August) will be ready at the end of September. Within the 6 months of the activity the database of the AaCs was empowered.
N1 N2 N3

With the inquiries aimed at receiving information the centers have applied to the RA ministry of nature protection, RA ministries of energy and natural resources, RA chamber of control, local authorities and other departments. The AaCs also made suggestions on the drafts of the normative acts. A proposal on Making amends in the RA water code was submitted to the RA National assembly, and proposals were made also to the RA ministry of nature protection on the RA law on Environment protection. AaCs activities promote dissemination of the idea of voluntarism. Volunteers are involved in the work of the centers. Centers activities were covered by a number of national and local TVs, as well as by the press and electronic media (more than 500 articles). The Centers coordinators were invited to TV-radio programs related to the environment protection. The public radio broadcasting the AaCs announcements free of charge. In 2011 compared with previous years the growth with the Medias is considerable. The centers summrizing reports implemented at the first half of 2011 are settled in the centres websites (www.aarhus.am, Aarhus centers, Center activity).

THE ACTIVITY OF AARHUS CENTERS BY PHOTOS

For suggestions and feedback feel free to call: phone: fax:: mob: Email: +374 264 6 15 11 +374 264 2 34 29 +374 91 76 46 41 i nfo_gavar@aarhus.am