OSCE Office launches environmental film week in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, 22 April 2009 - The OSCE Office in Tajikistan launched an environmental film week in Dushanbe today to mark Earth Day. 

The event, organized in co-operation with the Bactria Cultural Centre, aims to inform the public about the global state of the environment and to convey a strong message about the importance of taking action to protect the environment.

The week-long festival includes several screenings of films and documentaries on environmental topics and an open roundtable discussion on environmental challenges.

"It is our duty to protect the environment for future generations," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. "If after watching a film, viewers think about how they could change their behaviour to decrease their impact on the environment, then our objective will have been reached."

Khursandkul Zikirov, Chairman of the Tajik government's Environmental Protection Committee, added: "One of the most important tasks of the Environmental Protection Committee is to raise awareness about environmental issues among the general public, and to promote a more caring relationship with nature. This environmental film week organized by the OSCE and the Bactria Cultural Centre is an important event not only for environmentalists, but for the general public."

The environmental film week is part of the OSCE Office's activities aiming at raising public awareness about environmental challenges.