MADRID, MARCH 14, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Organizers of the upcoming World Youth Day in Madrid are reporting their efforts to make the event environmentally friendly and 100% natural.
The organizers of the August event announced on Thursday the program called «100% Natural,» which expresses the commitment to hold a non-contaminating event.
Eva Latonda, who is in charge of the 100% Natural program, stated, «To hand over a land in good conditions to the new generations is a concern of every Christian and hence also for the World Youth Day.»
Organizers explained that Zeroemissions, a company of the Abengoa entrepreneurial group that provides global solutions to fight against climate change, will calculate the direct gas emissions contributing to the greenhouse effect that will take place during the 2011 World Youth Day, and in general are inevitable in mass events, and will compensate through voluntary carbon credits.
Abengoa is making this contribution as a patron of the Madrid Vivo Foundation, an institution made up of various personalities and the most important Spanish companies collaborating actively with the youth day.
Emilio Rodríguez, director of Zeroemissions, stated: «We are delighted to collaborate with this project.
«This practice of voluntary compensation of emissions is ever more usual and is marking a tendency in events in which a great number of people gather.
«For example, it was already done in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and in the concerts of the U2 group.»
Carbon credits
The carbon credit program is an instrument included in the Kyoto Protocol. The credits are generated in sustainable projects that, without the economic aid that the acquisition of these credits implies, could not be carried out.
In the case of Madrid’s youth day, carbon credits will be obtained in five projects on various continents: a field of wind power in New Caledonia, a mini-hydraulic project in the Honduras, a reforestation project in Uganda, and two projects of recovery of methane in rubbish dumps of China and Turkey.
Another initiative to support the environment, thanks to «100% Natural» are: the launching of an online carpool application, which will put young people in contact with others who will go to the events by car or other means so as to reduce the number of vehicles in Madrid.
As well, organizers are creating a «sustainable route» from the city of Madrid to the Cuatro Vientos field to encourage pilgrims to get around in a way that will not contaminate the environment (walking or on bicycle).
The program will also install bicycles that generate energy in Cuatro Vientos so that the youth day participants can recharge their mobiles, portables devices, and other electronic equipment.
The program organizers launched a competition of the creation of a «100% Natural» logo. The prize will be a trip to Rome for two.
Other projects
A photography competition entitled «Disability in the Life of the Church,» was launched to promote positive images that elicit reflection, knowledge and the Church’s identification with the world of disability and vice versa. The deadline to hand in the photos is May 15.
The images can be loaded on the Web site of the competition and the users can vote for their favorites.
Family Rosary International (FRI), an ecclesial movement, has donated 600,000 rosaries that will be included in the official backpacks for the young people.
Father James Phalan of FRI, who is in Madrid, said he hoped that this contribution «will be one more thread in the beautiful tapestry of Madrid’s World Youth Day.»
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On the Net:
World Youth Day Web site: www.madrid11.com
Photography contest (in Spanish): http://conotramirada.madrid11.com/
