World Environment Week, June 2 to June 8, puts focus on clean environment

There’s no lack of garbage to pick up in Iqaluit to pick up during World Environment Week. (FILE PHOTO)

During Environment Week, June 2 to 8, the Government of Nunavut plans to encourage Nunavummiut to respect avatitinnik kamatsiarniq, the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principle of environmental stewardship by, among other activies, participating in community clean-up efforts.

For Environment Week 2013, the GN is targeting efforts to preserve water quality through the proper disposal of household hazardous waste.

The theme for World Environment Day, which falls on June 5: think, eat, save.

The United Nations Environment Programme, which is spearheading World Environment Day, estimates about one-third of all the food produced in the world ends up rotting in garbage bins of consumers and food retailers. To combat that, UNEP suggests looking at some of the preserved dishes developed within traditional cultures.

Nunavummiut are invited to observe Environment Week 2013 by participating in activities promoting the IQ principle of environmental stewardship in the following ways:

• interactive web graphic — learn how to properly store and dispose of household hazardous waste by visiting the environment department’s website. Click on the banner to discover more about helping to protect yourself and the environment;

• “Green Up” challenge: Send your “green” ideas that help reduce our environmental footprint to greenup@gov.nu.ca;

• Environment Week double feature: On June 6, Iqalummiut are invited to attend a free presentation of two environment-themed film documentaries at the Francophone centre. Free popcorn will be provided; the first film will begin at 6 p.m.; and,

• community clean-ups.