MEDIA BRIEFING, 12th June 2006
This year’s LONDON SUSTAINABILITY WEEKS (www.lsw2006.org), is enjoying substantial participation from London’s diverse ethnic communities. Sikh, Jain, Muslim, African, Panjaabi, Rastafarian, Caribbean, Tamil are amongst the many communities which have contributed key events to the fourteen day cycle of eco events focussing on motivating Londoners to make their city a ‘greener, cleaner and healthier’ place to live in.
Some key events include:
- RASTAFARIAN MULTI-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT DAY (World Environment Day), 5th June (Brixton, Lambeth)
- FAITH in London’s ENVIRONMENT, 6th June (Southall, Ealing) - a Christian, Muslim & Sikh perspective on our environment
- LONDON TAMIL CENTRE ENVIRONMENT DAY, 12th June (Wembley)
- JAAGO WOMENS GROUP ENVIRONMENT DAY, 15th June (Harrow)
- YOGA for HEALTH, 17th June (Heston, Hounslow) - Panjaabi & Sikh women event, open to all
- OUR COMMUNITY, OUR LIVES: AFRICAN WOMENS Community Development Workshop, 17th June (Barnet)
- LONDON SIKH COMMUNITY ACTION on WASTE, 18th June (Belvedere)
- SAVE THE PLANET, GO VEGETARIAN!, 18th June (Cricklewood, Edgware) - a multi-ethnic and multi-religious event, organised by the Jain community.
The combination of events deal with topics on food, water, healthy lifestyle, waste, composting, environmental injustice and environmental awareness. Further details about each of these events can be found on the LONDON SUSTAINABILITY WEEKS web-site - www,lsw2006.org.
Each of these events are closely linked to the MULTI-ETHNIC ENVIRONMENTAL PARTICIPATION programme, run by London 21 Sustainability Network. Jagdeesh Singh, co-ordinator of the programme, says “for 15 months, we have been working with communities across London, through a community mentoring programme and through contacts with community groups. Our aim is to encourage diverse social and ethnic participation in London’s sustainable environment through local and regional projects.”
A total of 12 different ethnic community events have been organised over LONDON SUSTAINABILITY WEEKS. Jagdeesh says: “This demonstrates the positive interest that exists at grass-root level in environmental sustainability issues. London is a city of many social, cultural and religious communities. We are all interdependent in creating and sustaining a clean, green, healthy environment that is enjoyed by all and belongs to all.”
Tomorrow will see the biggest single multi-ethnic environmental event in London. The annual LONDON MULTI-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT FAIR, will bring together 70 plus participants from community groups and public bodies to discuss issues and proposals on widening environmental participation across London’s diverse population, and profile ethnic environmental projects. The event is organised by London 21, and is hosted by Hackney Council. It will run from 10am to 5pm at Hackney Town Hall.