Almaty, 27 July 2011. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) proposed to send environmental patrol to Kapchagay Reservoir on Wednesday, August 10.
This place was not chosen accidentally. The EDB’s steering committee and the
oblast akimat (regional government) prepared a list of places that badly need cleaning. After all the proposed locations (Lake Issyk, Big Almaty Lake, Aksai Gorge) have been examined, Kapchagay Reservoir was selected as the most polluted place which is difficult for cleaning.
“The purpose of this initiative is to draw people’s attention to environmental protection issues and improve their attitude to nature,” commented Igor Finogenov, Chairman of the EDB Executive Board. “Our territories are rich in unique beautiful places and resources, and we, unfortunately, are not accustomed to preserve and protect these, unlike the developed countries. We hope very much that our environmental patrol will attract people’s attention and foster their love and respect for their land.”
The initiative’s slogan will be Clean up after Yourself. Most often, resorts and national parks get filled with garbage after weekends. People have good time in secluded, cool and picturesque places and leave after themselves empty bottles, packaging and paper.
The employees of the EDB’s headquarters and representatives of the oblast akimat will participate in the environmental patrol. Non-governmental organisations, journalists from leading mass media and Kazakhstan’s ecologists are also invited to take part in the initiative.
The environmental patrol will be transported by buses to the cleaning site. All participants will be provided with necessary things (gloves, bags, etc.).
This is a pilot project implemented by the Bank’s headquarters in Almaty. Similar initiatives are planned in all the EDB member states: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Tajikistan, because the issue of environmental preservation is important throughout the post-Soviet space.
