CENTRAL EVENT - Uzlina: GASTRONOMY AND ETHO-CULTURE Festival (25-27 June 2010)

Taking place at the Cormoran Resort in Uzlina, the sublime combination of Danube food and culture tempted the taste-buds and enlivened the Danube spirit. The central event has been organized in partnership by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Save the Danube and Danube Delta Association, in co-operation with the National Administration "Apele Romane", Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, National Institute for Research and Development Danube Delta, Tulcea County Council, Tulcea Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Coca-Cola System and Ursus Breweries, along with the media partners - "Bucataria pentru toti" magazine, Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company ("Romania Actualitati", Radio "Antena Satelor", Radio Constanta), Radio Guerrilla, Romanian National Television (TVR), "Jurnalul National" daily newspaper, Kamikaze weekly newspaper and 24 FUN magazine. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Dan Carlan, Secretary of State in the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests and Mihail Dumitru, Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, participated, as special guests, together with local authorities, specialists and journalists. The event brought in people's attention the importance of the local traditions, the water ecosystems protection and the potential of the local tourism, for a sustainable local development. 9 communities from the Danube Delta concurred for the best traditional food. Ursus Breweries, Coca-Cola System and the Save the Danube and Danube Delta Association offered considerably financial prizes, which will be used by the winners for local development projects within their communities.

Uzlina: Danube Debate - Sustainable use of the natural resources of the Danube Delta (26 June 2010)

During the central event, the officials discussed, within the round table "We have a Danube. What do we do?", about the relevant issues concerning the Danube river and the Danube Delta. The event tackled aspects such as the impact of the European funds on the sustainable development, people and biodiversity, water quality, co-operation among various institutions, especially concerning the Danube river and the Danube Delta and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. Participants: Dan Carlan, Secretary of State in the Ministry of  Environment and Forests, Silvian Ionescu, General Commissioner of the National Environmental Guard, Grigore Baboianu, Governor of the Danube Delta, Nicolae Chichi, Vicepresident of the Tulcea County Council, Mihaela Popovici, ICPDR Technical Expert, Horea Dorin Uioreanu, President of the UNESCO Commission within the Romanian Parliament, Ramona Manescu, Member of the European Parliament, Constantin Lefter, Director of the Tulcea Water Management System, Liviu Mihaiu, President of the Save the Danube and Danube Delta Association, local authorities representatives, mayors, sponsors, specialists and journalists. 

Uzlina: Special press conference (26 June 2010)

The European Commissioners and the Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development met the journalists during a press conference concerning the importance of the traditional products. In this context, they stressed the idea that local traditions have to be preserved and developed in perfect harmony with people and the touristic potential of the area.

Within the central event, some entrepreneurs form the Danube Delta received financial support form Ursus Breweries, in order to concretize their projects. 

All participants had the chance to see the movie "Cries of the River", produced by Jacques-Yves Cousteau's team between 1990 and 1992.

LOCAL EVENTS

At the Ministry of Environment and Forests initiative, the National Administration "Apele Romane" branches and the local authorities organized various awareness events on the Danube Day occasion.

In Calarasi county, the Prefecture, along with the Water Management System and their partners, organized photo and painting exhibitions about the Danube, interactive games, public awareness activities regarding the importance of the Danube basin protection, media campaign and seminars.

A special Danube photo exhibition and a roud table for the local journalists have been organized in Constanta county by the Dobrogea-Litoral Water Basin Administration and its partners. During a field visit, children had the chance to collect water samples and to promote their vision concerning the Danube.

In Giurgiu county, Danube Day has been celebrated by citizens and local authorities on the bank of the Danube river. Exhibitions, drawing and fishing contests, Danube cruise, water sampling activities and visits to special monitoring facilities have been organized, especially for children.

Officials, specialists and the stakeholders took part in a basin committee meeting held in Oradea, Bihor county. During this event, a special presentation about the Danube Day  and its significance has been promoted among the participants.

During the Danube Day Basin Committee meeting, the awareness project called "Danube - alive water body" has been launched in Timisoara, Banat river basin. The project aims to involve the local Danube riparian communities in various awareness activities, for a sustainable protection of the aquatic systems. Officials, specialists and the media discussed on this ambitious project.

Members of the Somes-Tisa Basin Committee and the media representatives celebrated the Danube Day and discussed themes such as Danube Strategy, the implementation of the river management plans and the protection of the water ecosystems.

Various local events took place in Jiu river basin, under the co-ordination of the Jiu Water Basin Administration and Dolj county Prefecture, with the active involvement of the press: a special Danube Day meeting of the Basin Committee, photos and drawings exhibition, debates concerning the water quality issue. Pupils also had the chance to visit the laboratory for water samples analysis.

In Olt county, Danube Day has been celebrated in Orlea village and in the harbour of Corabia. Children wearing traditional folk costumes, performed in Orlea village and also visited the Village Museum. The participants enjoyed a Danube film projection and a Danube cruise.

Within the Mures river basin, in Hunedoara county, members of the Basin Committee discussed about the importance of the Danube Day for an active public participation in the decision-making process related to water.

In Moldova Noua, local authorities involved children in various open-air activities: fishing contests, folk and modern dances, drawings exhibition about the Danube, sports competitions.

In Galati county, various events have been organized: educational activities for children, public awareness events, photos exhibitions, info points, seminars, water sample analysis, debates, concerts. The participants in the "Danube Art Master" competition, organized in Romania by the CCEG Galati, received prizes. The audience had a chance to see their art works within a special exhibition.  

Teleorman County Prefecture, city halls from Zimnicea and Turnu Magurele, Water Management System Teleorman, Children's Club Zimnicea, "Euro Teleorman" Association, Water Management Center Turnu Magurele, Apa-Serv organized various events: Danube Day exhibition, national competition for pupils' awareness called "Schools for a Green Future", International Forum "Danube Day".

In Tulcea county, local authorities organized events: the international contest "A Chance to the Blue Danube", the exhibition "Danube, the River of Hope", music and poetry shows called "Danube Symphony".

Special Basin Committees Meetings

Special Basin Committees meetings have been organized for this event. During these meetings, the Danube Day 2010 message of Mr. László Borbély, Minister of Environment and Forests, has been presented to the stakeholders.  

BRAILA: DANUBE DAY ACTIVITIES

In Braila county, various Danube Day activities have been organized:

19 May - 29 June 2010: Romanian Royal Yacht Club Braila implements the contest-project "Let the Danube Inspire You", First Edition - Braila.

Over the time, Danube river inspired great artists, becoming a central or integrant element of their composition. Writers, painters, photographers, choreographers, composers associated the Danube to some personal conditions, transmitted by artistic means. Colour, movement, sound, word - the Danube inspires us. The project meets this idea, by stimulating the students' creativity in the Danube town Braila. The contest comprises 3 sections which have, as common elements, the vision, the balance and the depth. We have chosen the painting , the photography and the mathematics because they are considered to be 3 different steps of the perception of the phenomenon. The project aims also to develop a local patriotism, demonstrated by the people's respect for the natural resources.

21 June 2010: 16 students, co-ordinated by teachers Florena Urse and Constantin Craciun, greened a part of Danube's bank in Tichilesti village.

28 June 2010: Braila Museum - Steluta Caraman and Ilie Caraman launched the book "Braila Rural Villages" 

28 June - 4 Jul 2010: In the Great Hall of the Braila County Prefecture, members of 3 clubs within the Palace of Children and Students Braila present a special exhibition - 48 photos that show the beauty of the Danube in Braila town and Braila county; 14 ship models and 6 airplane models, accompanied by trophies and diplomas, which recognize their value.

29 June 2010

10.00 am: Official opening of the exhibition. During this event, Veronica Macri, Deputy Prefect of Braila County, rewarded the students for their works. Around 50 students and teachers participated in this event.

10.00 am: Near the Danube promenade, 5 students volunteered to distribute more than 200 Danube fish stickers and "Small Wetland of Braila" flyers. During this activity, they attracted people's attention regarding the natural wealth of the Danube Delta and the importance of preserving this natural heritage. They were accompanied by Radu Moisei, from the Administration of the Natural Park "Small Wetland of Braila", and by teacher Liliana Canciu.   

10.30 am: In the Round Hall of the Braila County Prefecture, Oana Ristea, specialist within the Water Basin Administration Buzau-Ialomita, conducted a presentation called "Danube - Space of Life" and an open lesson about the organisms which are bioindicators for the water quality of the Danube. 24 children had a chance to see organisms living in the Danube water, which offer us information about its quality. At the end of this lesson, children and their teachers received participation diplomas and T-shirts.

After 11.30 am, at the Palace of Children and Students, took place the activity "Let's know and love the Danube". The participants had the opportunity to see photos, films and Power Point presentations (in English, French and Romanian languages) made by students in the Natural Park "Small Wetland of Braila".

At "Panait Istrati" County Library, the exhibition "One Danube" comprised documents from the collections of the library and the natural park.

In the Braila City Hall headquarters a photo exhibition has been organized.

GALATI: DANUBE DAY (29 June 2010)

Come along to the Danube Galati river walk on June 29th for interactive water games and the crowning of this year's Danube Art Master for Romania (see below). Activities will get young people thinking and acting for their rivers, with info stands aimed at children on health issues, the need to save water and reduce pollution, ecology and navigation. The organisers, Eco Centre Galati (ECCG), are also planning to reach across national borders with joint Danube Day activities with NGOs in Moldova and Ukraine.For further details, contact Iulia Leonte of the ECCG on +40 236 499 957 or +40 724 049139; email: eco [at] cceg [dot] ro.

Danube Art Master schools competition (ongoing)

The search is on to find this year's young Danube Art Master. This international schools competition, overseen by the Danube Environmental Forum and now in its seventh year, challenges every pupil in the Basin to create a piece of environmental art inspired by their local river. The only rules are that you should be as creative as possible and think about what the Danube means to you. If you need some ideas, check out the Inspiration page. For details on how to enter, please contact Iulia Leonte of the Eco Counselling Centre Galati (ECCG) on +40 236 499 957; +40 724 049139; email: eco [at] cceg [dot] ro. See also: www.cceg.ro/ZiuaDunarii2010.htm.

Download the fact sheet

For details of events and organisers, download the fact sheet: Danube Day 2010 in Romania 71.39 KB.

Further information 

For the latest news, please contact:

Valentin Brustur of the Ministry of Environment and Forests on +40 21 316 2184; email: valentin [dot] brustur [at] mmediu [dot] ro and view www.mmediu.ro.

To see how Romania celebrated Danube Day last year, go to Review 2009.

Links

Ministry of Environment and Forests: www.mmediu.ro
Centrul de Consultanta Ecologica Galati (ECCG): www.cceg.ro
ECCG Danube Art Master competition: www.cceg.ro/ZiuaDunarii2010.htm