Foreign Ministry to Provide Organizational Support for 'Let's Do It' Abroad
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet says his ministry will throw its weight behind promoting the Let's Do It project around the world, starting with an appearance at a sustainable development conference in Brazil.
"We will also support the organizing of a Let's Do It side event at the UN Rio+20 sustainable development conference this June in Brazil and we are prepared to lend a hand to carry it out,“ Paet said after a meeting with members of the civic trash cleanup organization in Tallinn on May 10.
Paet said the trash pickup campaign was a good example of civic initiative and a small step toward implementing sustainable development principles.
"The Estonian environment has gained much from the Let's Do It projects and this could be a practical role model for many other countries," Paet said.
The Rio+20 conference on June 19 marks the 20th anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which passed resolutions on economic growth, social equality and environmental protection.
Paet said it was a perfect forum for Let's Do It, founded in Estonia in 2007, launched with a countrywide trash cleanup event in May 2008 and turned into a global undertaking with 63 countries organizing their own campaigns this year under the World Cleanup project.
"Now it's again time to agree on new measures to alleviate poverty, and for more sustainable use of energy and resources," Paet said.
Kristopher Rikken