ICVolunteers Projects Calendar

IUCN-The World Conservation Union (www.iucn.org) was founded in October 1948. IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature.

One of the many programmes at IUCN is the Species Survival Commission (SSC), and part of their work involves the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species highlights species that are being threatened with extinction and promotes their conservation.

According to the IUCN Red List, there were 16,306 species that were threatened with extinction in 2007. African vultures, Sumatran Orangutans, Western Lowland Gorillas and Yangtze River Dolphins (Baiji) are some species that are on the Red List. Over-exploitation, invasive alien species, pollution and habitat loss or degradation are some examples of the threats that endangered species face.

In this context, Earth Focus Foundation is organizing a debate on 'Animal Conservation: Setting Priorities'. The aim of the debate is to better understand what are some threats that endangered species are facing, why it is important to protect them and ways we can protect them. In addition, Mr. Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Head of the Species Programme from the IUCN's Species Conservation Programme will be joining us as a guest speaker.

Issue of the debate

The issue of the debate would be: What endangered species should be protected as a priority?

The participants will be divided into groups (4 students / group). Each group will be assigned an endangered specie. The group will need to prepare a Power Point Presentation of 8 - 10 slides that include the following info:

• Title of debate / Name of school group is from / Name of students in group
• Name of endangered specie that the group is protecting including images (no more than 3 images)
• 3 threats that the specie faces
• How to protect the endangered specie
• Why protecting the specie should be a priority
• Conclusions

* There will also be a prize (CHF 30 gift certificate to SWITCHER store) rewarded to the group with the best Power Point Presentation

* Each group will be required to present their Power Point presentation and argue for why their assigned specie's protection should be a priority. They will also be submitted to the questions from the other participants and from the assistance.

At the end of the debate, there will be a vote of which species should be protected in priority.

Date and Inscription

Debate day: the 15th of April 2008 at the ICCG (International Conference Centre of Geneva)
Time: 1 to 4pm
Inscription: before the 7th of April 2008
The conclusion of the debate will be published in the Earth Focus and Objectif Terre magazines, and on the Earth Focus Foundation and ICVolunteers websites.

Participative Conditions:

This debate is open to all Middle School and Cycle student s.

Every school and every student of the 'Suisse romande' cantons could participate in this debate.

The debate will be bilingual (English / French) and there will be interpreters present to translate.

The application form can be found on the Earth Focus website or requested from the foundation, which will be sent by email, mail or fax.

The endangered specie will be assigned to the group of participants as soon as registration is completed.

Contacts: For more information or questions, please contact any of the individuals below

Earth Focus Foundation
Mme Nicola Spafford Furey
6, chemin Sous Cherre
1245 Collonges Bellrive
Tel : +41 (0) 22 704 35 14
E-mail: nicola@earthfocus.org
www.earthfocusfoundation.org

SBM Conseil
Mme Sandra Brazzini-Mourier
Cell: +41 (78) 834 58 03
E-mail: sbm@sbmconseil.ch

ICVolunteers
Mme Sue Hua
104, Rue de Carouge
Tel: +41 (0) 22 800 14 36
E-mail: sue.hua@icvolunteers.org
Website: www.icvolunteers.org