BRAMA, May 27, 2004, 1:00 pm ET
Press Release
Ukrainian-American Environmental Association Founded to Promote Joint Efforts at Solving Environmental Challenges Facing the U.S. and Ukraine
Washington DC A new international, non-profit environmental educational organization, the Ukrainian-American Environmental Association (UAEA), has been founded by Ukrainian and U.S. environmental professionals to facilitate information-sharing and promote cooperative efforts to address a broad array of ecological concerns affecting both the United States and Ukraine. Issues of interest include, but are not limited to: energy, climate change, air pollution, soil contamination, toxic wastes, water pollution, wildlife preservation, sustainable agriculture, and wilderness preservation.
Incorporated in Washington DC, UAEA is initially working out of offices in both Takoma Park, Maryland (USA) and in Rivne, Ukraine. Its founding board of directors includes:
Carol Werner: Executive Director, Environmental & Energy Study Institute, Washington DC
Taras Lychuk: Researcher + Soil Scientist; Co-Director, EcoClub, Rivne, Ukraine
Ken Bossong: former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer - Ukraine; Coordinator, Sustainable Energy Coalition, Washington DC
UAEA's near-term goal is to evolve a large network of American and Ukrainian non-profit organizations, educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, and interested citizens working on various aspects of environmental policy. Through this network, UAEA will enable participants to more effectively influence important environmental decisions on the local and national levels. A free-of-charge, weekly electronic newsletter, “Ukraine and the Environment Update” is now being sent to members of the network with news updates, research reports, statistical information, conference announcements, fundraising opportunities, and related information.
Longer-term goals include developing a data base of environmental indicators in Ukraine and the U.S., issuing short reports and policy recommendations to address environmental problems in both countries, and facilitating professional exchanges, student scholarships, training projects, international conferences, business investments, partnerships between U.S. and Ukrainian municipalities, joint research projects, and municipal environmental awards programs.
UAEA will not seek to influence partisan political issues such as the forthcoming presidential elections in both Ukraine and the United States.
However, it will work to build bridges between environmental decision makers in the U.S. Congress and federal agencies and their counterparts in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and Ukraine’s environmental ministries to further cooperative efforts to address environmental issues in both countries.
Information will be made available in English and/or Ukrainian (and, on occasion, Russian).
Persons wishing to have their names added to UAEA's newsletter distribution list should send an e-mail to ua_ea@yahoo.com
Ukrainian-American Environmental Association
U.S.A. Mailing Address: 8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2; Takoma Park, MD 20912; 301-588-4741
Ukraine Mailing Address: 11 Strutynska Street, #18; Rivne, Ukraine 33003
e-mail: ua_ea@yahoo.com
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