International programs
Earth Charter:
GCNL has participated in some conferences on the subject in the past, and have discussed it with some political parties in order to gather their thoughts and support. In November 1999, GCNL participated in the Earth Charter internet conference.
Legacy of War:
Visits by members of GC Russia and GC Switzerland were occasions to call on ministries and discuss problems related to the legacy of the cold war. The Dutch government is prepared to make funds available for environmental cleanup - but GCNL was disappointed that this idea was not taken-up more positively by GC National Offices involved.
Water/Desertification:
GC Netherlands is actively involved in Burkina Faso. It is actively soliciting grants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who has specially dedicated funds for underdeveloped countries. GCNL will also be a partner of GCI at the World Water Forum being hosted by the Dutch Government in the Hague in March 2000, and at which GCI is coordinating three sessions. GCNL will be responsible for finding volunteers to run a Green Cross stall at the large Water Fair that will be attached to the Forum. GCNL's contacts with key people associated with the Forum will be useful for GCI.
Education:
GC Netherlands participates in the Green Cross Youth contest with GC Burkina Faso. The program in Burkina Faso, which involved 20,000 people was a success in 1999. The Dutch government was present through its embassy and was very satisfied with the realization of the project. GC Netherlands is hoping to receive a larger grant from the Dutch Ministry for the Environment in 2000 and be able to continue and evolve the project. GC Netherlands is also involved with GC Estonia for the development and distribution of a natural product (mud) to be sold under the name of Green Cross.
National programs
Older People Investigation project: A scientific investigation took place in the Netherlands where more than 500 people were interviewed. The objectives were as follows:
• to identify the interests and desires of people, older than 55 years in environmental subjects;
• to identify the motives of these people whether they would like to participate in environmental projects;
• to identify the triggers (reasons for changing an opinion) when they did not like to participate;
• to identify whether this participation will increase their self-esteem;
• to identify their communication needs and the way this could be organised;
All relevant national organizations in the field of environment, volunteers and organizations of older people are participating in this project. Results will be used for the application of an European Commission Subsidy for a more profound study throughout Europe. EC-Green Cross members then will be asked to join GCNL in order to elevate its project status into a Program status. The conference will also create a medium to develop projects where older people will dedicate themselves to nature and environment. At this moment relevant data are already available from the UK and Germany. ECO-label project: Since the start as an independent GC member in 1995, GCNL is trying very hard to establish a fertile soil for the development of the Green Cross label to become the only leading world ECO-label. Countless conversations have been arranged with the major players in this field in Brussels, London and the Netherlands. The president of the International Accreditation Forum is Dutch and last April we received an invitation for Mr. Gorbachev to speak at their world congress in Tokyo. Unfortunately both the invitation and conference date were beyond our President's travel scheme. In 1998 the IAF will meet in Hong Kong. The presidency of GCI has instructed us to restart our discussions in order to identify all options and possibilities.
