International Danube Day

The River of Life

The International Danube Day is product of signed Danube River Protection Convention in 1994 in Bulgaria. This year's theme "Shared Waters - Joint Responsibilities" is defended by increased number of countries celebrating this day and organized events. This gives hope that people in the future will be more aware that nature can strike back and that joint life with it is necessary


By LJILJANA SAMARDŽIĆ
from Sombor, SERBIA


In the times when majority is looking forward to technological innovations and global modernization, we must be especially cautious with our natural surrounding. Due to that, Danube Day is being celebrated in different countries: Serbia, Slovakia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Germany and Moldova.

Danube - International River

Danube basin is the world's most international basin. It had great impact on politics and socio-economical situation through the history. Beside historical meaning, Danube, as all great rivers, had cultural and general relevance. "They are life, power, food, water, transport and recreation. The Danube wetlands control pollution, cleaning up toxins in the water. The rivers are a commercial link across Europe and a unifying force bringing together communities with different cultures, languages and histories. The rivers are rivers of life, providing livelihoods and a heaven for wildlife."

Danube Day (June 29th ) is dedicated to this river as well as global ecological awareness. This is one of the days that should remind human beings that they are not the owners of planet Earth, but its keepers. Due to that, people who live in community with Danube are organizing different events on river banks. Program includes educational, sport and entertaining events, conferences, cleaning-ups and alike with aim of raising ecological awareness.

Actions

Hungarian cyclist's club organized one interesting tour, "Green Bikes for Peace" - cycling tour through 5 countries, from Italy to Hungary. "Watery" games were organized in Austria appropriate for teams of young Austrians and Slovaks, then "Danube Delta Photographic Exhibition" - the tour of winning photographs from international Danube Day competition.

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) went step further. They used The Danube Day to promote its value and utility for European Union. On that occasion Stakeholder Forum in Bratislava was held. All interested stakeholders from sectors including agriculture, industry and environmental organizations discussed the management of the Danube as outlined in the draft Danube River Basin Management Plan. "This Forum demonstrates that the principle of 'joint responsibility' can be brought into practice," says Olga Srsnova, ICPDR President and General Director of the Division of Waters and Energy Sources at the Slovak Ministry of Environment. "To manage our water responsibly is not only an objective for government. It requires the action of all different users, from the person filling their swimming pool to the farmer applying fertiliser to the fields."

The International Danube Day is product of signed Danube River Protection Convention in 1994 in Bulgaria. This year's theme "Shared Waters - Joint Responsibilities" is defended by increased number of countries celebrating this day and organized events. This gives hope that people in the future will be more aware that nature can strike back and that joint life with it is necessary.


(Published: 18.07.2009.)