The Environmental Network of Dominican Universities (RAUDO by its Spanish acronym), has signed an agreement with the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), where both sides expressed interest in supporting the diffusion and development of activities to raise environmental awareness in the country, particularly in universities.

Rosaura Pimentel, Coordinator of the Master of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC by its Spanish acronym) and President of RAUDO, signed the agreement with Natasha Despotovic, Director of DREFF and Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD).

RAUDO and its member universities in its various campuses will provide the venues for screenings, panel discussions, and workshops held during DREFF, in addition to technical assistance, according to the agreement. Likewise, the institution will contribute to the diffusion of DREFF’s year round programming and initiatives among students and teachers. Meanwhile, DREFF will collaborate with RAUDO initiatives, particularly the Sustainability on College Campuses Forum, held in November each year.

The collaboration between the two institutions will start immediately, with the projection of a series of environmental films to the university community of INTEC on May 12, 13, and 14.

About RAUDO
RAUDO is an association of Dominican universities that works to contribute to the sustainable development of the country through teaching, research, and the dissemination of knowledge related to environmental issues. It consists of 16 universities: INTEC, who chairs the 2013- 2014 board; APEC University (UNAPEC); the Technological Institute of the Cibao Oriental (ITECO); the National Evangelical University (UNEV); the Open University for Adults (UAPA); the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD); the National University Pedro Henriquez Urena (UNPHU); the Universidad Católica Nordestana (UCNE); the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD); the Catholic University of Technology of Cibao (UCATECI); the Technological University of Santiago (UTESA); the Barahona Catholic University of Technology (UCATEBA); the Universidad Central del Este (UCE); the Universidad Agroforestal Fernando Arturo de Meriño (UAFAM); and ISA University.

About DREFF
Since its inception in 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), provides Dominican audiences a platform for knowledge and debate on the environment and sustainable development, and their issues and best practices, while celebrating the beauty and unique wealth of the Dominican nature.

Through the screening of a diverse selection of the best films that deal with issues of major national and international relevance, and the organization of discussion panels, courses, seminars, and field visits, DREFF not only promotes dialogue but also inspires the Dominican public to take action to ensure the health and sustainability of the environment.

More information: www.dreff.org

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) initiative, signed an agreement with India’s International Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum, CMS Vatavaran. With this agreement, DREFF expands its outreach by partnering with a festival in Asia, reinforcing its mission of developing global networks for the discussion of pressing issues and possible solutions.

With this partnership, both festivals—members of the Green Film Network (GFN), an association that gathers the best environmental film festivals from around the world—agree to jointly promote environmental consciousness and sustainable development in the world through environmental film screenings, workshops, seminars, and other related activities. In addition, in the context of this agreement, DREFF and CMS Vatavaran will promote each other’s films in their respective programs.

About DREFF
Since its inception in 2011, DREFF has provided Dominican audiences with a platform for knowledge and debate on the environment and sustainable development, bringing awareness to important issues and best practices—while also celebrating the splendid beauty and abundance of the Dominican’s natural heritage through extraordinary environmental films.

In addition to the diverse selection of the best films that deal with issues of major national and international relevance, DREFF also organizes discussion panels, courses, seminars, and field visits to not only promotes dialogue, but also inspire the Dominican public to take action to preserve the health and sustainability of the environment.

For more information visit: www.dreff.org

About CMS Vatavaran
Since 2002, CMS, a committed research and advocacy think-tank established in India, has been pioneering international environment and wildlife festivals and forums—known as CMS Vatavaran. “Vatavaran” is a Hindi word meaning that which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development. Aptly named,CMS Vatavaran’s mission is to encourage and feature high-quality environment films and informative forums that generate better perceptions, practices, and policies for preserving and conserving the environment and wildlife. These international films break down cultural barriers of language and class to spread awareness through a powerful visual medium, strengthening collaboration through dialogue and debate across all sectors of society.

For more information visit: http://vat2015.cmsvatavaran.org/know-us/about-cms-vatavaran/

About Green Film Network
Green Film Network (GFN) is a network that helps coordinate and promote many of the major environment film festivals from around the world. Presently, there are more than 20 worldwide environment film festivals. GFN’s goal is to encourage a pro-environment culture through cinema. The network is also a meeting point for all associated festivals to meet and exchange information and cinematographic experiences, as well as improve and promote films and authors they consider worthy of note. Each festival that participates in the network also actively works on environmental projects by setting up workshops, holding debates and events, completing joint activities, and laying the foundation for discussion and research that profoundly influences the public, particularly young students in schools. Ultimately, GFN hopes to create a new culture that prioritizes the importance of the relationship between man and his natural environment.

For more information visit: http://greenfilmnet.org/about/

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) just launched the audiobook Hacia el desarrollo sostenible y la economía verde en la República Dominicana (Towards sustainable development and green economy in Dominican Republic) which includes a brief analysis of the current sustainable development in a global context, a compilation of national and international legislation regarding said topics and a practical guide to promote environmental sustainability and resilience from both business and household perspectives. The book is available in Amazon, Audible, Itunes and our website and is downloadable straight to your smart-phone, e-reader device or tablet.

The publication, initially recorded in Spanish, uses very user-friendly language to foster awareness on climate change and sustainability topics for a wide audience in both the Dominican Republic and abroad. For the first time, a new audience of listeners interested in sustainable development and green economy can hear an introduction to basic sustainability topics and the most important milestones at the international and local levels on sustainable development. The compilation outlines the best practices and shares the lessons learned from many countries and companies that have committed to sustainability at several levels. The book then presents useful hands-on tips for saving water and energy, contributing to transport sustainability, promoting green policies at the work place, and other related areas of interest. The book also includes several facts, important quotes/statements and useful information related to the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations.

Businesses and households that wish to contribute to sustainable development are now provided with the knowledge of where and how to start. Although this was originally written for the Dominican Republic audience, it is undoubtedly just as applicable to other people elsewhere, since our need for a more sustainable environment knows no geographical limits.

Related Links:

http://publications.globalfoundationdd.org

Audible website link

http://www.audible.com/pd/Science-Technology/Hacia-el-Desarrollo-Sostenible-y-la-Economia-Verde-en-la-Republica-Dominicana-Audiobook/B00URVCX0M

Amazon website link

http://www.amazon.com/Desarrollo-Sostenible-Dominicana-internacional-legislaci%C3%B3n/dp/9945590022

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), and initiative of GFDD/Funglode, signed a collaboration agreement with Instituto IBERIA that will help to continue increasing awareness of sustainable socio-economic development in the Dominican Republic, thereby promoting the exchange of experiences, knowledge, research and environmental awareness in general in the country, while foster a culture that encourages proper management and use of natural resources in Dominican society. The agreement was signed by DREFF’s Director and Executive Director of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), Natasha Despotovic, and Instituto IBERIA Director, Víctor Martínez.

Among other things, Instituto IBERIA -with headquarters in the city of Santiago- will share its venues for screenings, panel discussions and / or workshops held during DREFF, contributing to the promotion of its programming among students and teachers, as well as related initiatives celebrated throughout the year.

Likewise, the Instituto IBERIA will promote the environmental programs implemented in the context of DREFF such as EcoHuertos, ReCrearte, RDescrubre, Globo Verde Dominicano Award, and Year Round Environmental Film Screenings.

Since its inception in 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), provides the Dominican public a platform for knowledge and debate on the environment and sustainable development, their issues and best practices, while celebrating the beauty and unique wealth of the Dominican nature.

Though the screening of a diverse selection of the best films that deal with issues of major national and international relevance, and the organization of discussion panels, courses, seminars and field visits, DREFF not only promotes dialogue but also inspires the Dominican public to take action to ensure the health and sustainability of the environment.

More information:
www.iberia.edu.do
www.globalfoundationdd.org

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of GFDD/Funglode, signed a collaborative agreement with the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE, by its Spanish acronym), to support activities that promotes sustainable development in the Dominican Republic. The contract was signed by Dr. Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán, Vice-chancellor of the academic institution, and Natasha Despotovic, GFDD and DREFF Executive Director. With this agreement, both institutions will foster a culture that promotes the proper management and use of natural resources in Dominican society, as well as increase awareness of sustainable economic and social development in the country, promoting the exchange of experiences, knowledge, research and environmental awareness in general in the Dominican Republic.

Natasha Despotovic said that the partnership “is an excellent opportunity to endorse the environmental programs implemented in the context of the DREFF throughout the year such as ReCrearte, EcoHuertos, Globo Verde Dominicano Award, and Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, among others, and in turn integrate UNIBE’s Community Service program and Ecology Group, while exploring the possibility of developing other joint activities.”

Through the agreement the DREFF will collaborate, among other things, with the activities of UNIBE’s Environmental Week, held every year in the month of June, and likewise UNIBE will share its venues for screenings, panel discussions and/or workshops during the DREFF, promoting the DREFF’s programming and initiatives throughout the year among students and teachers.

DREFF aims to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of environmental issues among Dominican audiences. The Festival also celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage and offers insights into attitudes and actions that will contribute to its appreciation, conservation and sustainable use.

Links related:
www.globalfoundationdd.org/
www.unibe.edu.do