- ecoflag -

*Operation Clean Up the Stadium



Please find below some pictures on a "Operation Clean Up the Stadium " we have done here in Douala during the World Environment day at BASE ELF; note that the operation has been organized by a well know French Petrolium Company named TOTAL, in par‚”nership with more than 5 environmental associations like GSA Douala , Sukyo Mahikari ,APTDD BAPESU , Mieux Vivre and others. Note also that the activities on the field were coordinated by Ms Oum Veronique of Sukyo Mahikari. GSA Douala Team Captain, Jean Philippe Kono Amougou

*Ecoflag Movement promoted through Provincial Cuban Media


One of GSA Cuba's goals is to promote the project among many volunteers, sports promoters and citizens to preserve our ecosystem. On May 26, 2010 GSA Cuba's Team Captain was interviewed by "TelePinar", the local television station. The report dealt with the achievements and impacts of the GSA project in the World and in Cuba. A more extensive interview was also held with Guama Radio, a local radio station and the report will be transmitted on 30 May at 3:00 pm Report by MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuentes

*GSA Cuba Helps Restore Community Sports Field


This report deals with GSA Team member activities in the community of San Vicente in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. The River Guama, which flows very near the neighbourhood, is highly contaminated and the volunteers used sport as a means of forming a work group to tackle to problem. GSA Cuba brought together children, teenagers and adults to ensure a sound and safe sports field. Places like this have been improving since the establishment of the GSA Cuba Team in 2006. Report by BCh.Roberto?Duarte Lopez, MSc. Fernando E. Valladares Fuente

*Old Office Turned New Sport Department


An old dusty office in the Pinar del Rio Boxing Academy used to store disused and broken equipment did little for the academy except cause allergies and other health problems. That is until some of the trainers, attending courses at the Sports University, crossed paths with GSA Cuba's team captain and learned about how they could protect the environment and the health of their athletes. Lic. Pedro Nieves Valdes Mendez took on the task of separating and disposing/ recycling the rubber, metals, plastics, paper, glass and others items. It was a simple exercise but has generated interest among the coaches and athletes in "thinking environment!" Report by: Lic. Pedro Nieves Valdes Mendez Advisor: MSc. Fernando E. Valladares Fuente

*Ecoflag contributes to the improvement of the sport facilities in Bahia Honda, Pinar del Rio, Cuba


The municipality of Bahia Honda is located in the westernmost part of Pinar del Rio. The are has several sport facilities, one of the most outstanding being the baseball stadium in the heart of the town. The area around the stadium is often littered with discarded soda cans, cardboard and plastic bags that pollute the area and nearby sea, and one neighbourhood to the south of the stadium is struggling with air pollution issues. GSA Cuba, based at the Pinar del Rio Sports university, carried out an analysis of the area to measure the health impact and put forward to following actions: To promote awareness through local education centers To further research local environmental impacts Introduce reforestation and clean up projects To create environmental murals in the sports facility To create fan clubs in schools and other volunteer groups that will take environmental action Author: Lic. Niurka Puentes Quinones, Lic. Sergio Rodriguez Gutierrez. Advisor: MSc. Fernando E. Valladares Fuentes

*GSA Cuba Joins National GUANICIENCIA Workshop


On February 19-20, GSA Cuba moved to Guane, Pinar del Rio, as part of an invitation to a National environmental Workshop. Guane is a very rich territory in terms of nature and sustainability and GSA's visit was quite fruitful in teaching local inhabitants and participants from diverse provinces of the country about our international project. It is the first time that our Ecoflag flew in front of so many people, and at the event the team explained the project focusing on local sport promoters, and covering areas such as martial arts teach in rural places (Bolondron City), the keeping of sports facilities in remote areas, the building of recreational facilities and equipment usin renewable products and other ecological initiatives. Professor Raybel Garcia Prieto was also given an award for his great work as a sport facility keeper, as well as the instructor of Musical Aerobic Gymnastics. The team also checked the water quality as part of the WWMD program.

*Konosu Sports and Environment Field Trip



We held a sports and environment field trip on 31 January 2010 with the goal of teaching young future national team hopefuls about fair play and Ecoplay. 107 primary school kids and 45 adults took part, including GSA World Center staff and GSA Navigator, Otty. Shinya Kaneko, GSA Musashimo

*GSA Cuba Preserving the Famous Vinales Environment


The National Vinales Park is located in Pinar del Rio, the Westernmost province of Cuba and was declared a cultural Heritage site by UNESCO on 23 October 1971. Due to the influences of climatic change and some other environmental problems this area has been gradually affected. This natural reserve faced two strong hurricanes three years ago and has constantly suffered man's aggression caused by a lack of knowledge, mainly in the name of tourism. Tourism in Cuba is one of the most important branches of the economy but neglectful management has caused problems in Vinales, and the traditional tobacco has also fallen due to the water scarcity in the valleys where the plant traditionally grew healthily in the past. GSA Cuba has been working with local sports promoters in the region to try and change people's mind in order to save and protect the valley. These actions include: - Workshops to educate people to preserve the Vinales environment. - Ecological games to teach youngsters about conservation. - Working with tourist entities to control their environmental impact. - Promoting the creation of pits and artificial ponds to favour tobacco plantations. Many of these measures are being carried out at present; some others are still waiting for sponsors. Report by Lic. Yakelin Rodriguez Cueto MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente

*Leonel Abrahantes Community Teens Join Ecoflag Movement


The care and protection of the environment is a priority for the Leonel Abrahantes community located in San Juan and Martinez, Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Teens in the area are involved in sports and through their activities have become in activities that raise awareness and protect the environment. Among the environmental activities supported by the Ecoflag Movement are: -Cleaning and organization of different areas of waste disposal. -Environmental awareness about the damage of chemical products (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) -Fixing water leaks in laundries, dry-cleaners and other enterprises. -Conducting debates about excessive deforestation, fishing and hunting. -They also carry out workshops with the Cuba GSA specialists so that they explain the teenagers the necessity of using biological controllers. This work is a result of some Physical Education teachers willing to support this group of adolescents in Pinar del Rio and spread awareness on community care and conservation. Report by: Lic. Emilio Gonzalez Gonzalez, MsC. Yudelquis Martinez Leon and Lic. Belkis Martinez Leon Advisor: MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente

*GSA Cuba Offers Environmental Contribution at Asphalt Factory


23 October 2009--Sport promoter Lic. Humberto Perez Martinez, member of the GSA Cuba team went to an asphalt factory in Consolacion del Sur with his Physical Education students from the Otto Perellada Primary School, to teach the children the environmental damage that can be caused by toxic waste at a factory and to exchange ideas with the workers, explaining GSA's International project of Environment and Sports. Environmental actions at the plant have contributed to improving conditions at the factory. They include: - Implementing ISO14001 standards for cleaner production. - Reducing environmental contamination in the factory and surroundings - Reducing air pollution. - Guaranteeing sanitary and hygienic conditions at workstations. - Increasing the environmental education of the workers. - Eliminating inadequate handling of solid waste. ?- Adapting an area inside the factory for solid waste. - Guaranteeing health and safety of individual workers. Report by Lic. Humberto Perez Martinez, Lic. Livan Acosta Cano

*The Cuba GSA Team deals with an oxidation pod


In the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba there is a town named Bahia Honda that has a sugar factory called Harlem. It is located in the Agro Industrial Complex near a river and the sea. The Harlem factory contaminates the river and sea water as residues flow to the oxidation pond and this affects the beaches where children and young people swim and play. The contamination is the result of different toxic substances, but also high temperatures. This water is used to cool the machines that the factory use in the sugar production, and when this water returns to the sea it kills fish and wildlife. GSA Cuba decided to do something and we were joined by sports promoters Idania Felicia Pino Martinez and Milian Kessell. We visited that pond and flew the Ecoflag as we talked about the importance of environmental protection. Other actions included: - To find solutions with the community to avoid contamination. - To organize meetings and actions with the local people. - To organize clean ups - To celebrate the midway surrounding bay. - To establish better practises with the workers in the factory. Report by: Lic. Idania Felicia Pino Martinez, Lic. Milian Kessell

*GSA Cuba GSA Goes to the Dry Cleaners


November 5th, 2009--GSA Cuba, led by sports promoter Lic. Celestino Valdes Canal, a teacher of Physical Education and Sports at "Tomas Orlando Diaz" Junior High School, moved to the dry cleaners of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, to carry out environmental activities as part of the tasks included in GSA Cuba's strategy, guided by its captain MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente. Our Cuba GSA Team carries out actions in the cities as well as in the rural areas, and with more than the 40 percent of the population using dry cleaners in Cuba we need to consider the environmental impact. Report by Lic. Celestino Valdes Canal Advisor: MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente

*River Cleanup in New York


On 3 October GSA New York partnered with the Town of Cornwall Conservation Advisory Council (CCAC) to sponsor its second annual Hudson River Cleanup. Inclement weather may have had a negative effect on the quantity of volunteers, but certainly not the quality as some local officials arrived ready to work. The rainy conditions did not dampen the spirits of these volunteers (including representatives from the CCAC, a town council member, a former town supervisor and a county legislator). GSA New York applauds these local leaders, who lead by example. GSA New York sends a special "thank you" to clean up partners Storm King Adventure Tours for their unwavering support and commitment to defending the Hudson River environment. This effort in Cornwall is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Last year over 400,000 volunteers around the world collected more than 6 million pounds of trash from the Earth's waterways. Ocean Conservancy Storm King Adventure Tours

*Los Palacios, Pinar del Rio, Cuba


GSA Cuba Team involved in improving the environmental conditions of the sports facilities of Los Palacios, Pinar del Rio, Cuba The state of sports facilities in the municipality of Los Palacios in Pinar del Rio province has created a controversy due to rainy conditions and negligence of some workers and local residents in its care and maintenance. In every sport, man is the main character and we must ensure that any space where physical activity is performed, the conditions are optimal for people to show off their athletic abilities. In this sense Cuba GSA team has done a persuasive job with people in the community through educational talks, collective commitments, and training to develop environmental education in the community. On October 7th, 2009, a team member Dr. Gustavo Herrera CUBA Christ GSA gathered a group of young people to undertake restorative actions to make these facilities functional transformed in terms of human welfare and its ecosystem. All these actions are part of the international GSA from the work of sports promoters who attend post-graduate studies at the University of the sport of Pinar del Rio. Author: Dr. Gustavo Herrera Christ Advisor: MSc: Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente, GSA Cuba Team Captain

*Awareness Raising in Caiguanabo



Caiguanabo is located in the mountainous municipality of San Andres, La Palma, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, it is part of the forest reserve of the area mentioned above, the result of careless human activity, Caiguanabo is an area that has been subjected to deforestation caused by the indiscriminate felling of trees and by fires which have threatened much of its flora and fauna is, threatening biodiversity in this area. But fortunately there are people that think that all is not lost and decide to do something to reduce these harmful effects. GSA Cuba Team want to be among the first in line to raise awareness among the population in this mountainous area about forming a culture of reproduction, care and maintenance of forest reserves in the area. Report: Miguel Angel Cordero Blanco, Abel Montes de Oca Contino Advisor: MSc. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente

*An Ecoflag Watchout for Spilled Cans


This photo shows more than just a man and a bicycle sack full of discarded cans. The can were collected by an ecowarrior after they were thrown away by neglectful sport spectators. He is MSc. Fernando E. Valladares Fuente, who togeteher with Lic. Abel Cires Martinez from The Cuba GSA team, picked up discarded soft drink and beer cans after a baseball match and other games held in the Pinar del Rio locality. They are also educators on sustainable environment and although the cans will be sold to a recycling company, the main goal was to educate people not to throw things away carelessly. Report b: MSc. Fernando E. Valladares Fuente Lic. Abel Cires Martinez

*World Environment Day 2009--Report 2




My second report for World Environment Day 2009 is about tree planting organised by Mr Hele Pierre,Minister of Environment and Nature Protection (MINEP) on June 02 at Vita Park in Makepe, Douala. Photo 1: Mr Hele Pierre is welcomed by Etienne Nguegan, the MINEP regional delegate. Ernest Ndongue is pictured with the Ecoflag. Photo2: The minister ,Hele Pierre, on his way to the tree plantation area. Photo3: The Minister assisted by environmentalist, Didier Nkoum (known as l'homme en blanc) is launching the operation by planting the first tree. Photo 4: The secretary general of the littoral region, Jean Abate Ediee, planting the second tree assist by Mr Nkeng Panfil, the park director. Photo 5: Mr Ndjel, a member of APTD an association that does environmental work, is preparing the field for the regional commandant, Colonel Jean Calvin Leumagni, to tour. Photo6: The commander in chief in full action of planting trees with Ernest Ndongue holding the Ecoflag and one TV camera present at this occasion. Photo 7: Mr Jovian Shemlong, one of my Ecoplayers in charge of assisting the secretary general with Ernest and myself. Photo 8: In front of the Vita Park office , Mr Paul Nguedjo of the regional delegation of MINEP LITTORAL is assisted by Mr. Jovian Shemlong in flying the Ecoflag. Also pictured is the Secretary General of Camento and Mr Shemlong. Photo 9: I am sharing the Ecoflag accompanied by Gabriel Kemogne on of my Ecoplayers at the park entrance before the arrival of the Minister and his delegation Report by Jean Philippe Kono Amougou Team Captain GSA DOUALA, CAMEROUN

*Ecoflag in Taiwan



In accordance with Industry-Academy Cooperation, National Taiwan Sport University (NTSU), which is dedicated to promote Marine Eco-Environment activities, recently demonstrated excellent achievements on implementing the essence of such activities into the curriculum of Marine Sports and Recreation. The Marine Eco-Environment activities, regarded as a prelude to the development of marine sports and recreation were held by NTSU at Bi Sha harbor of Keelung city, where the Mayor of Keelung presented the banner to Professor Chun-Hsiung Kao, Dean of the Academic Affairs of NTSU and also the convener of the activity, followed by launching a common declaration of promoting the Marine Eco-Environment. Sea Opening is a ceremony for people to pray for blessing and fulfill their promises; it is also the way to remember the time when our ancestors first explored the marine world in human history. Sea Opening could be said to be an ancient legend started from the Han Dynasty as a ceremony of gratitude expression for their sovereign power being expanded from the land territory to the sea; in modern times it is a common worship ceremony for the fishing man to pray for blessing. Regardless of its different disclosures, the true spirit embedded in Sea Opening stands for our worship as well as our entrustment.

*36th World Environment Day 2009



Mr Etienne Nguegang, Regional Delegate of the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection (MINEP), is seen here reading the GSA flyer at a World Environment Day 2009 meeting held at the Direction De La Meteorologie of Bonanjo Douala on May 29. Also pictured; Ms Oumarou Fadimatou Bah, Director of Information and Communication of the regional delegation of MINEP and Mr Owon' Owono Jean Gerome, Chief of Brigade of the same Delegation Also pictured is Mr Dieudonne Nkoum commonly called "L'homme en Blanc (the man in white) is the sponsor of the association MIEU VIVRE and a well known environmentalist. Here we are preparing for a tree planting ceremony around the VITA course, a public sport site of more than 50 hectares located in the residential area of Makepe, Douala. The ceremony will be chaired by the Cameroonian Minister of Environment and Nature Protection, Mr Hele Pierre on Tuesday 02 June 2009. In the other photos you can see us in operation together with some of my Ecoplayers and the leaders of other associations. Report by Jean Philippe Kono Amougou Team Captain GSA DOUALA, CAMEROUN

*Sanjo Festival Clean Up


A clean up took place after the Sanjo Festival in Sanjo City, Niigata prefecture on 17 May. Prayers are said at the temple in the hope of a good festival each year and we all pour ourselves into cleaning up the area thoroughly. We'll continue flying the Ecoflag and promoting a new eco-friendly community. GSA Player, Emi Yoshida

*Earth Day '09 at Fieldstone Secondary School


Earth Day 2009 at Fieldstone Secondary School (FSS) was a busy one, with students engaged in activities from beginning to end of the school day. These activities were organized and led by Fieldstone educator and GSA-New York Ecoplayer, Dan Sullivan. In the early morning of 22 April, sixty students from Fieldstone and North Rockland High School joined forces to clean up roadside trash. This was the third consecutive year of participation in the Great American Cleanup, an event sponsored by Keep America Beautiful. After hauling in about 600 pounds of trash, the eighth and ninth grade FSS crew took lunch and then started digging holes. In the afternoon, a bus load of fourth graders arrived from nearby Thiells Elementary School to plant trees. Teaming up with the older Fieldstone students, the Thiells 9 year olds planted nearly 50 white pine seedlings (Pinus strobus) in an open area on School District property. The trees were given to Fieldstone by the official New York State Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs, NY.

*Sports Business International Summit



We are more than happy to inform you that GSA Lagos Island was able to fly the Ecoflag at the Sports Business International summit, hosted by PINSENT MASON in the United Kingdom titled "MAKING THE DIFFERENCE, A SPORTS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SUMMIT. We had photos of the Ecoflag with delegates who attended the summit, among them is Great John Ameachi, the ex NBA player and sport psychologist who gave the opening speech at the summit that brought sport practitioners from around the world, and we also had photographs of journalist from the BBC and Nigeria. Reported by GSA Team Lagos Island Team Captain

*Sporec Miyazaki 2009



The Ecoflag was flying at the Sporec Miyazaki 2009 PR event that took place on 20 March and 2 May, as part of the Miyazaki Flower Festival. Among the events on offer was the chance to try out new sports, and both the very young and old could be seen taking up the challenge. The event was a PR exercise to promote the upcoming Sporec Miyazaki 2009 that will take place over 4 days from 17-20 October 2009. The Ecoflag will also fly at the event as part of an environmental awareness drive that will showcase proposals for running environmentally friendly sports events. The Flower Festival was a great venue to mark 150 days left until Sporec Miyazaki 2009 with amazing colors and smells all around, and when the event was complete, there wasn't a single piece of garbage to clean up. Report by Mihoko Hosoyamada, GSA Miyazaki

*International eyo Festival



Attached are photos of the International eyo festival. It attracted people from all walks of life and we had the opportunity to meet with both local and foreign visitors, press-men and other organizations were around the flag to learn more about the Ecoflag. Report by Ogulala Jude, GSA Lagos Island Team Captain

*GSA Hyogo Joins Mass Clean Up



22 February 2009--220 townsfolk took part in a massive clean up. The Hamasaka HS Volleyball Team makes up the main body of GSA Hyogo, and they joined the event that took place around Shin Onsen Town, alongside some 3rd year volunteers from the school and pro beach volleyball player, Kazuyuki Takao, who was visiting the town at the time. The clean up area was around the old Route 178, which has seen a dramatic reduction in traffic since the opening of an alternate tunnel last year. Garbage thrown out by drivers was always a problem, but recently people have been using the area as a dumping ground for unwanted household electrical equipment and other large pieces of garbage. There is a real need to not only conduct clean ups but to actively educate people worldwide to not discard garbage thoughtlessly. Kazuto Morita, GSA Hyogo Captain

*Nordic Walking Instructor's Training in Miyazaki



20 participants took part in the event on 8 February 2009, sponsored by GSA Partner, the Miyazaki Nordic Walking Association, in order to be officially certified by the Japan Nordic Walking Association (JNWA). JNWA Master Instructor, Yoshiaki Ito, was invited to give the training and we flew the Ecoflag and handed out resources so that the participants could also learn about the Ecoflag Movement as part of their training. We hope the new instructors will not only carry out their technical duties, but become Ecoplayers (enriching nature, saving energy and reducing material consumption).

*Knickerbocker Ice Festival


On 25 January 2009, GSA-USA presented the Ecoflag to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) of New York and New Jersey. The occasion was the Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park NY, hosted by the PIPC. New York Team Captain Kevin Trotta presented the flag "in recognition of the Park Commission's unwavering stewardship of the region's unique natural heritage and in gratitude for the fresh air opportunities they have provided for the recreation and spiritual renewal of generations of Americans and visitors from around the world". The Ice Festival drew over 25,000 attendees and a host of dignitaries including the New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, two US Congressmen and PIPC Executive Director Jim Hall, who accepted the flag on behalf of the PIPC. The Festival itself was a "green" event with photovoltaic demonstrations and functional solar powered traffic signage, comprehensive recycling including compostable dining utensils and a demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology. At the Ecoflag presentation Trotta encouraged the public to "give something back" during these challenging economic times and, through partnerships and volunteerism, find ways to support our parks and recreation systems. This spirit of teamwork is exemplified by the collaboration of GSA-USA and the PIPC on the recently launched "Eco-Friendly Playfield Project" at Bear Mountain State Park. LINKS: Palisades Park Conservancy Knickerbocker Ice Festival

*Sports Turf Managers of New York Conference


GSA-New York Team Captain Kevin Trotta was a speaker at the inaugural conference of the Sports Turf Managers of New York (STMONY) in Syracuse, NY on 12 and 13 November on the topic of Environmental Turf Craft. He also presented an overview of the GSA and the Ecoflag campaign. At the conference general session Kevin, STMONY President Roger Casterline and Executive Director Joann Gruttadaurio announced the formation of a strategic partnership between STMONY and GSA-NY. GSA-NY and the 1400 member Sports Turf Managers of New York are launching a new, collaborative project on the STMONY website called The GREEN Corner to promote environmental awareness and action among managers of sports facilities. Managed by GSA-NY, The GREEN Corner provides links to pertinent 'sports and the environment' articles, research and updates as well as Ecoflag reports and GSA news. LINK: STMONY's homepage

*Nawadhara Clean Up


On this day we have organized the cleaning camp 2008 on the Godavari, the local temple called Nawadhara. We have our national festival 'Dashain' is coming near in October and all the Nepalese celebrate this festival. On which, people worship in local temples and our local temple is Nawadhara. We are organizing this cleaning camp annually. This time we have added the meditation camp with cleaning the temple and temple area to preserve the cultural heritage and aware the people for the environment. It was very successful program because large numbers of people were participating in those activities. Every body share the eco flag and I have introduced about the Ecoflag and GSA, further about the objective of eco flag in the whole mass.