Media Release 26 May 2008

Sydney, Australia: Volunteering to improve the environment has been given a significant boost following the announcement today that up to 28 million Scouts in 156 countries will take part in community based environmental initiatives as part of a new alliance with the global Clean Up the World campaign.

The new relationship announced today in Australia by the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Volunteering Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, Clean Up the World Chairman and Founder Ian Kiernan AO* and Scouts Australia Chief Commissioner John Ravenhall AM*, will add substantial volunteering power to Clean Up the World, already mobilising an estimated 35 million people each year.

As participants in the Clean Up the World campaign, National Scout Organizations across the globe will take further steps to help limit the impacts of climate change and protect the environment for future generations.

The Sydney, Australia-based Chairman and Founder of Clean Up the World, Ian Kiernan AO said Clean Up the World volunteers and Scouts across the world will be active throughout the year, including on World Environment Day, June 5th, and the Clean Up the World Weekend in September.

"Scouts have always been active in environmental conservation but by joining forces with Clean Up the World's other volunteers even greater environmental achievements can be made," Mr Kiernan said.

"Climate change is a major concern for people all over the world. We can already see the impacts and people don't want to leave the problems for their children and grandchildren to deal with.

Mr Kiernan highlighted revegetation programs and environmental education campaigns as examples of the kind of steps Clean Up the World volunteers will be taking in 2008. 

"Communities across the globe are looking for practical actions to take to help limit the impacts of climate change and Clean Up the World provides people with those practical steps," he said. 

Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement Luc Pannisod said the new alliance will act as further inspiration for Scouts across the world to take part in environmental activities.

"Clean Up the World and the World Organization of the Scout Movement are natural allies when it comes to environmental preservation - after all, Scouts represent the future generations that are going to benefit from today's environmental actions," Mr Pannisod said.

"This new alliance shows that the youth of today are more than prepared to play their part in helping protect our environment," he said.

* AO/AM Order of Australia awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.

Media contact:
Photographs and detailed information about Clean Up the World activities in your area/country are available on request from Ms Alana Mew, ph: +612 8280 9100 or +614 2337 7567 email: alana@essentialmedia.com.au

About Clean Up the World:
The Clean Up campaign started in 1989 when an Australian solo-yachtsman and builder Ian Kiernan, appalled by the amount of rubbish he came across while sailing, organized a clean up of the Sydney Harbour, during which some 40,000 volunteers removed rusted car bodies, plastics, glass bottles and cigarette butts from the water.

The campaign went global in 1993, with Sydney becoming Clean Up the World's headquarters. Today it brings together hundreds of members from around the world ranging from local community groups to national campaigns that carry out environmental projects throughout the year.

In 2008, Clean Up the World is celebrating 16 years of environmental action and achievement.

For more information, visit http://www.cleanuptheworld.org/ or contact Ms Alana Mew, ph: +612 8280 9100 or +614 2337 7567 email: alana@essentialmedia.com.au

About World Scouting:
The Scout Movement is a non-partisan movement of 28 million active volunteers in a world network of local groups that belong to National Scout Organizations in 156 countries. The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is an independent, non-profit organisation at the service of the Scout Movement, composed of its national organizations. It has had consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1947. It is recognised by the majority of UN agencies and governments and works in collaboration with other agents in the world of education and civil society.

Scouting is an educational social force that takes action on environment at local and international levels. It is a leading global movement for advocacy in the following fields:

- The promotion of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
- Sustainable development
- Protection of the environment

The environment has been central to the Scout Movement since its inception, with Scouts mainly undertaking outdoor activities and are therefore exposed to nature. This exposure and interaction with nature has sensitised Scouts on the need to conserve and care for the environment. On a regular basis, the Scout Movement worldwide undertakes clean-ups and tree planting campaigns, engages in water and soil conservation activities as part of their environmental education programmes.

For more information visit: http://www.scout.org/ or contact Vanessa Von der Mühll, ph: + 41 22 705 10 30 email: vondi@scout.org