Media Release - 21 September 2007

USA and Mexican cities unite to help Clean Up the World

Cross-border disputes between the USA and Mexico will be put on hold on September 22nd so that joint action to reduce the causes of climate change can take place as part of the global Clean Up the World campaign.

In a tale of two cities breaking down barriers for a greater good, more than 5,000 people from Ciudad Juárez in Mexico and El Paso in the USA will together take part in a range of activities, from environmental ‘clean ups' and tree-planting to exhibitions and competitions to increase awareness about climate change.

The joint event will run from September 22nd - 29th and represents just two of the more than 130 countries and estimated 35 million people involved in the Clean Up the World campaign.

Director of Industrial Relations at the Juárez Limpio Asociacion Civil, Ernesto Moreno Mona, the organisation behind the project, is hoping the event will not only contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change in the area, but also help build relationships between the two cities.

"We know and are sure of the fact that joining forces leads to short and long term results," Ernesto Moreno Mona said. "No one in isolation - not governments, global organisations nor companies - has the complete solution to these problems but together, organised communities that are conscious of the problems, causes and possible solutions can have a greater effect.

"We hope that this will be the start of a bi-national relationship which joins the two cities instead of dividing them, given that both cities share the same air, water and earth even though they are situated in two different countries."

A number of environmental activities will be carried out during the week in both Ciudad
Juárez and El Paso including clean ups of schools, parks and waterways as well as tree
planting, environmental awareness campaigns, competitions and exhibitions. Clean Up the World founder Ian Kiernan AO* said the event is a great example of the true
spirit of the Clean Up the World campaign.

"In order to combat the environmental problems facing the world today we all need to join together to take action," Mr Kiernan said. "It's fantastic to see communities put aside any differences and band together for the benefit of our environment."

The Clean Up the World campaign is in its 15th year and has the support of the United Nation's Environment Programme (UNEP). The 2007 theme is ‘Our Climate, Our Actions, Our Future' channels community action towards addressing the causes of climate change.

For more information visit the Clean Up the World website at www.cleanuptheworld.org
* AO Order of Australia awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.