  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
Almost all local governments to support the Big Cleanup
Press release
3 March 2010
53 days to the Big Cleanup on 24 April and the organisational work is beginning to gather steam. Now almost all local governments applied to support the Big Cleanup - 108 regions and 9 cities, which means that the organisational work can go head. Only Babīte Region has not yet confirmed its participation in the Cleanup.
The main task of the local governments in the Cleanup organisation is to ensure the collection and removal of waste to the landfills, which will accept the collected waste free of charge.
The local governments have appointed their coordinators and now there are already 116 Big Cleanup organisers all over Latvia. Names and contacts of the Cleanup coordinators can be found on www.talkas.lv. The Cleanup coordinators will be the key persons responsible for successful conduct of the Cleanup in each region - they will distribute the bags, provide the participants with information, coordinate the collection and removal of waste bags after the Cleanup.
During the Big Cleanup, in many regions the local governments will also organise cheering events for the participants - a cup of tea or a bowl of soup or a merry sing-along.
In Rīga, the Big Cleanup group leaders have met with the Executive Director of the Rīga City Council and conceptually agreed on cooperation in the organisation of the cleanup in Rīga. Rīga is a big city indeed and requires special organisers' attention. For the Big Cleanup to succeed in Rīga, additional volunteers have been attracted to help the Cleanup organisers in Rīga.
"This year the Cleanup organisers urge all local governments to take a creative approach to the cleanup organisation - to attract volunteers, organiser competition and similar activities. To asses the situation in your region and organise the Cleanup to answer the needs and wishes of the people. The Cleanup is not only about cleaning; it is also about planting trees, grooming common yards, etc. The Cleanup is a 'come together ' and all will benefit from it - our land and our people," prompts the head of the Big Cleanup Vita Jaunzeme.
*****
The Big Cleanup tradition was started a year and a half ago on 13 September 2008 as one of the events to mark Latvia's 90th birthday, and the second Big Cleanup took place last year on 18 April. More than 110 people took part in the massive environmental project collecting hundreds of tons of litter and waste. The patron and active participant of the cleanup is the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. The objective of the Big Cleanup is to make Latvia the cleanest place on Earth in 10 years' time.
The organisers of the Big Cleanup are Projekts Pēdas (Footprint Project), Chancery of the President of Latvia, Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, group of kindred spirits Tīriem Mežiem (For Clean Forests) together with RIMI, Ministry for the Environment, Latvian State Forests, Komunikāciju Aģentūra/ Edelman Affiliate, Latvian State Roads, Latvian Association of Waste Management Companies, Latvijas Zaļais Punkts, council of the Latvian Creative Association, and portal www.kurtuesi.lv.
*****
Additional information:
Vita Jaunzeme, vita.jaunzeme@pedas.lv
Ilona Zacmane, Komunikāciju Aģentūra/Edelman Affiliate: 67201460, ilona.zacmane@ka.lv
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
