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September 22nd is "In town, without my car!" day
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On September 22nd 2001, 976 cities in Europe perticipated in "In town, without my car!" campaign. In this campaign, the transportation of cars is restricted in the central part of the town. This pan-European event was organized in France in 1998. The European Union started to support the event from this year and the campaign has spread throughout Europe.
27 towns participated in Sweden
In Sweden, Environmental Protection Agency and National Road Administration supported this event. 27 Swedish towns signed the declaration and participated in the campaign. Among the participants were Swedish second largest city Gothenburg and the third largest city Malmo but not Stockholm. More than 30 towns which did not sign the declaration, also organized related events.
Auto emissions damage our health
On this day, in Gothenburg, not only did they close the streets in the central town, but also held exhibition of low emission vehicles and bicycle races. Minister of the Environment, Kjell Larsson, said that 6% of the deaths of European people are cause by air pollution and half of it is from auto emission. I felt that auto emissions are not only relating to global warming but also to various environmental problems directly affecting our health.
"In town, without my car!" campaign spread worldwide
This event has spread outside of Europe. In Asia, Phnon Penh in Cambodia participated. How about your town? May be there are other towns which hold a similar event on other days.
For details of the declaration and other English information, check
http://www.22september.org/.
Mr. Torbjorn Lahti is coming to Japan
Here's another news. Eco-municipality specialist, Mr. Torbjorn Lahti is coming to Japan on 12th October. He has lead many communities to sustainable society.
In the early 1980s, Mr. Lahti worked for overtornea municipality, which is along the border of Sweden and Finland, and has made the first eco-municipality in Sweden. After that, he played an important part in many communities as an educator. He also developed an educational tool called "Agenda 21-guide for local development".
Reference: Sweden Environment News September 2001 issue (issued/edited by Lena Lindahl)
Translation : Satoko Fujii(Ecology Symphony Oct 2001)
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