GFDD and FUNGLODE celebrate Earth Day at the OAS HQ, and in DC Schools

Washington DC, April 22, 2013

For first time the Organization of American States (OAS) has institutionally celebrated Earth day, and GFDD and FUNGLODE , were proud to join them on this momentous occasion to give proceedings a creative and somewhat youthful touch.

Audiences were invited by the head of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza,  to take part in the Brown Bag Lunch and digital presentation on the Face of Climate Change in the Americas; read the Special issue of Disasters this week; and participate in the film screenings “Have fun and learn from TERRA!” at the Art Museum of the Americas.

Brown Bag Lunch: the face of climate change in the Americas
The director of the Sustainable Development Department, Cletus Springer, welcomed attendees among which were the Ambassador and Secretary of External Relations of the OAS, Alfonso Quinonez and Kirk Rodgers, former director of the Department of Regional Development.

The ambassador stressed that the OAS through an institutional celebration like this, is devoting its responsibilities not only in a Political level, but also wants to influence and raise awareness of their mission in the care of the earth.

Both the director of the Sustainable Development Department and Ambassador commented that the relationship with institutions like GFDD and their initiatives helps carry the message of awareness about environmental issues.

Have fun and learn with "TERRA" on Earth Day
The program for the celebration of Earth Day in Washington DC has been essentially educational due to the screening of "Terra", a short film brought from Dominican Republic that discusses Environmental and Climate Change. With a different audience than usual, namely small children, and the use of a very innovative approach based on games, GFDD succeeded in developing an entertainment, educational, fun and memorable experience for participants.

The director of the Sustainable Development Department Cletus Springer and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Dominican Republic to the OAS attended to the screening and showed their appreciation for the effort done by the OAS and GFDD in raising awareness of environmental issues.

After the screening, the executive producer of the award-winning film "TERRA", Juan Emilio Yanes, the educator and director of the program "Beyond the Walls” Amy Bean, and the Expert Partnership for Energy and Climate of the Americas (ECPA), held an extended discussion with the children with a clear message, "the planet's future is in the hands of  the new  generations.”

Screening of "Terra" in Lafayette School
Children and their teachers showed interest and excitement during the screening of the film "TERRA" at the auditorium of Lafayette School. Teachers praised GFDD and TERRA’s team initiatives on encouraging children to protect and preserve nature and also invited GFDD to participate to next’s year Earth Day Celebration.

Video Statement by Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS 
(www.oas.org/en/sedi/dsd/)