ECOWEEK was founded with
the mission to raise public awareness, inform and guide the public in becoming
more environmentally and energy conscious. ECOWEEK has adopted in its Articles
the Aarchus
Convention principles (signed June 25, 1998 and entered into effect in
October 30, 2001) for public access to information, decision making and justice
for the environment.
ECOWEEK was established because temperatures are rising; the glaciers are
receding; permafrost is thawing; the sea levels are rising; spieces are being
lost at a rate faster than ever before. Because our children and grandchildren
are facing a very uncertain future. Because as responsible citizens of the
world we watch our fellow citizens go on with their lives, as if nothing is
happening. Because buildings are built irresponsibly, badly planned and oriented,
not well thermally insulated, thus consuming 40% of energy produced and producing
more than half of the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere (view EU
Directive 2002/91). Because people prefer to take their cars to the next
block to buy a newspaper, rather than walk. Because we produce and dump more
waste than we recycle. Because we pollute the water we drink, the ground we
grow our crops, and the air we breath. Because we have lost our connection
to the earth and its ability to sustain life on earth with abundance and generosity.
ECOWEEK is for sustainability not only for humans, but also for the ecological
habitats and the earth's natural cycles and processes.