Earth Day GEO Photo Exhibit - "Focus on Nature"

The Equator Initiative celebrated Earth Day 2004 with the opening of a gorgeous new photo exhibit in the public lobby of the UN Secretariat. Entitled “Focus on Nature”; the images portray how local communities cope with a changing and dynamic environment. The event coincided with the 12 th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, which was also being held at UN Headquarters in NY. The photos were provided by GEO Magazine, in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Equator Initiative, the German Mission to the United Nations, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

-To view the press release for the Earth Day Event please click here

The opening ceremony featured speeches by the Honorable Kerstin Müller, Minister of State in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Zéphirin Diabré, UNDP Associate Administrator; Ruth Eichhorn, Director of Photography at GEO Magazine and Alvaro Umana, head of UNDP Energy and Environment Group.

Mr. Diabré began the evening by talking about the importance of local movements in achieving the more globally focused Millennium Development Goals (MDGs. He stated that, “the GEO exhibition – through its impressive portrayal of our living planet –reminds us that the achievement of the MDGs will be highly dependent on the success of local struggles to battle poverty and biodiversity loss”. Ms. Mϋller, who followed Mr. Diabré, stressed the German government’s commitment to sustainable development and conservation. She went on to elaborate on the necessity of conservation as a means of poverty reduction.

-To view Zephirin Diabré’s speech click here

-To view Ms. Mϋller’s speech click here

Mr. Umana gave a personal account of his experiences with community organizations while in Malaysia for the Equator Prize 2004 awards ceremony. He quoted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan saying, “the passion, dedication and courage with which these communities have adopted the cause of local sustainable development are a source of inspiration to the entire global community”. Ruth Eichhorn, head of photography at GEO, gave the final address of the evening, which touted the value of photography as a vital means of spreading the message of sustainable development.

To view Mr. Umana’s speech click here

The photo exhibit will be on display through June 8, 2004