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UV Index and Sun Protection

Environment Canada's UV Index and Sun Awareness Program teaches students about the UV Index and how to use it to minimize the risks to their health from solar ultraviolet radiation. It's a great tool for students, teachers and parents. Join the Sun Savvy School Club, download the new UV Index and Sun Protection poster and the UV Index Observing Activity Guide.

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Listening to Young People

The environmental views of 600 children, aged 10 to 12, from 80 countries around the world, will be shared this week in Victoria, British Columbia.

The International Children's Conference on the Environment was founded on the idea that children should be active participants in decisions that affect the future of their planet and that governments should actively seek children's concerns and opinions about the environment.

The delegates will have the opportunity to increase their understanding of environmental issues by sharing their experiences and opinions. They will be striving to create new ideas and solutions for improving the environment. They will also have the opportunity to create new relationships that break down artificial ethnic barriers and lead to friendships that last well beyond the conference.

Organizers are working to ensure that the conference is as environmentally responsible as possible. They are measuring the environmental impact of the conference including waste, paper use and emissions from transportation. And, they are purchasing environmentally friendly products; encouraging recycling and water and energy conservation; and creating "Green Stations" to educate delegates about local and international environmental issues.

The overall theme of the conference is "Local change can make global change". Under the daily themes of water; climate change; healthy communities, healthy children; and resource conservation, the children will explore ways to reduce human impacts on the environment and protect our natural legacy. They will take these lessons back to their communities and inspire their friends and neighbours to think globally and act locally.

The views of these young people will also influence the way governments act. An important outcome of the conference will be the development of a challenge to the governments of the world, which the children will present to world leaders and environment ministers at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa this September.

The conference was planned with the help of a Junior Board made up of eight Canadian children and six children from other countries. The Board was involved in key planning decisions and is helping to host the conference.

The conference, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, is taking place at the University of Victoria from May 21-25, 2002.

Related Links

International Children's Conference on the Environment
Earth Summit 2002, Canadian Secretariat
World Summit on Sustainable Development

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