Written by Maria Dimitrova/Ivayla Bozhanova
In Bulgaria the International Danube River Day this year is marked as “The People and the Danube” and focuses on flood prevention June 29th is marked as the International Danube River Day. On this date 12 years ago, in 1994, the then 13 countries of the Danube River basin and the European Commission sign the Convention on cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River /the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC)/ in Sofia. The countries, which signed the document were: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Ukraine. The document set the beginning of a more vigorous and active international co-operation for the preservation of the river wildlife that depend on it. The festivities include huge festivals on the banks of the river, public meetings and educational events. They pay tribute to the Danube, its people and the progress that has been made. This year the motto of the International Day is “The Danube and Fish”.
The Danube is the second biggest European river after Volga in Russia. Together with all its tributaries it forms one of the most important river systems on the Old continent.
In Bulgaria governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are working to ensure Danube Day secures positive action for the Danube. Activities will take place in Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Kozloduy, Belene, Nikopol, Svishtov, Rousse, Tutrakan and Silistra aimed at spreading the Danube day message to children and students in the Danube municipalities. In Bulgaria the 2006 event called “The Danube and Peple” focuses on flood control.
“We have mapped up special measures for the prevention of floods,” says Kremena Simeonova, expert on waters at the Ministry of the Environment and Waters. “This will be the main topic of the conference of the Council of the River Basin with the Directorate of the Danube Catchment Area held in the city of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria.
We also envisage meetings of experts with the pupils and young people from the towns of Svishtov, Rousee, Vratsa in order to discuss methods of pollution
Schools will once again be joining in the Danube art masters competition. It is a challenge to pupils from across the Basin and invites the children to let their creativity run wild and make a piece of art, connected with the river. The art works must be made of elements, found by the river: reeds, stones, driftwood. The international contest is overseen by the Danube Environmental Forum.
“The creation of a system for forecasting of floods and early warning will also be considered,” says Kremena Simeonova. “The planning of the activities to this end this will be funded by the EU. We have already prepared a working project called “Monitoring of the trans-boundary water flows”. Automatic stations for the monitoring of the water level will be built on the territory of Bulgaria. After the frequent floods of late along the Danube the changes in the level of the river are carefully observed.”
So – on June 29th, when the Danubean countries mark the Day of river, they also celebrate the common history of these countries, their shared European cultural and religious traditions, their joint efforts. The aim is also to raise public awarness of the current state of the Danube and other rivers, waters and their environment. We want to draw public attention to the importance of protecting the rivers and their environment, to the importance of flood prevention and of supporting all those whose future and fate depend on the these rivers.
In Bulgaria governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are working to ensure Danube Day secures positive action for the Danube. Activities will take place in Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Kozloduy, Belene, Nikopol, Svishtov, Rousse, Tutrakan and Silistra aimed at spreading the Danube day message to children and students in the Danube municipalities. In Bulgaria the 2006 event called “The Danube and Peple” focuses on flood control.
“We have mapped up special measures for the prevention of floods,” says Kremena Simeonova, expert on waters at the Ministry of the Environment and Waters. “This will be the main topic of the conference of the Council of the River Basin with the Directorate of the Danube Catchment Area held in the city of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria.
We also envisage meetings of experts with the pupils and young people from the towns of Svishtov, Rousee, Vratsa in order to discuss methods of pollution
Schools will once again be joining in the Danube art masters competition. It is a challenge to pupils from across the Basin and invites the children to let their creativity run wild and make a piece of art, connected with the river. The art works must be made of elements, found by the river: reeds, stones, driftwood. The international contest is overseen by the Danube Environmental Forum.
“The creation of a system for forecasting of floods and early warning will also be considered,” says Kremena Simeonova. “The planning of the activities to this end this will be funded by the EU. We have already prepared a working project called “Monitoring of the trans-boundary water flows”. Automatic stations for the monitoring of the water level will be built on the territory of Bulgaria. After the frequent floods of late along the Danube the changes in the level of the river are carefully observed.”
So – on June 29th, when the Danubean countries mark the Day of river, they also celebrate the common history of these countries, their shared European cultural and religious traditions, their joint efforts. The aim is also to raise public awarness of the current state of the Danube and other rivers, waters and their environment. We want to draw public attention to the importance of protecting the rivers and their environment, to the importance of flood prevention and of supporting all those whose future and fate depend on the these rivers.
The Danube is the second biggest European river after Volga in Russia. Together with all its tributaries it forms one of the most important river systems on the Old continent.
In Bulgaria governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are working to ensure Danube Day secures positive action for the Danube. Activities will take place in Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Kozloduy, Belene, Nikopol, Svishtov, Rousse, Tutrakan and Silistra aimed at spreading the Danube day message to children and students in the Danube municipalities. In Bulgaria the 2006 event called “The Danube and Peple” focuses on flood control.
“We have mapped up special measures for the prevention of floods,” says Kremena Simeonova, expert on waters at the Ministry of the Environment and Waters. “This will be the main topic of the conference of the Council of the River Basin with the Directorate of the Danube Catchment Area held in the city of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria.
We also envisage meetings of experts with the pupils and young people from the towns of Svishtov, Rousee, Vratsa in order to discuss methods of pollution
Schools will once again be joining in the Danube art masters competition. It is a challenge to pupils from across the Basin and invites the children to let their creativity run wild and make a piece of art, connected with the river. The art works must be made of elements, found by the river: reeds, stones, driftwood. The international contest is overseen by the Danube Environmental Forum.
“The creation of a system for forecasting of floods and early warning will also be considered,” says Kremena Simeonova. “The planning of the activities to this end this will be funded by the EU. We have already prepared a working project called “Monitoring of the trans-boundary water flows”. Automatic stations for the monitoring of the water level will be built on the territory of Bulgaria. After the frequent floods of late along the Danube the changes in the level of the river are carefully observed.”
So – on June 29th, when the Danubean countries mark the Day of river, they also celebrate the common history of these countries, their shared European cultural and religious traditions, their joint efforts. The aim is also to raise public awarness of the current state of the Danube and other rivers, waters and their environment. We want to draw public attention to the importance of protecting the rivers and their environment, to the importance of flood prevention and of supporting all those whose future and fate depend on the these rivers.
In Bulgaria governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are working to ensure Danube Day secures positive action for the Danube. Activities will take place in Vidin, Lom, Oryahovo, Kozloduy, Belene, Nikopol, Svishtov, Rousse, Tutrakan and Silistra aimed at spreading the Danube day message to children and students in the Danube municipalities. In Bulgaria the 2006 event called “The Danube and Peple” focuses on flood control.
“We have mapped up special measures for the prevention of floods,” says Kremena Simeonova, expert on waters at the Ministry of the Environment and Waters. “This will be the main topic of the conference of the Council of the River Basin with the Directorate of the Danube Catchment Area held in the city of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria.
We also envisage meetings of experts with the pupils and young people from the towns of Svishtov, Rousee, Vratsa in order to discuss methods of pollution
Schools will once again be joining in the Danube art masters competition. It is a challenge to pupils from across the Basin and invites the children to let their creativity run wild and make a piece of art, connected with the river. The art works must be made of elements, found by the river: reeds, stones, driftwood. The international contest is overseen by the Danube Environmental Forum.
“The creation of a system for forecasting of floods and early warning will also be considered,” says Kremena Simeonova. “The planning of the activities to this end this will be funded by the EU. We have already prepared a working project called “Monitoring of the trans-boundary water flows”. Automatic stations for the monitoring of the water level will be built on the territory of Bulgaria. After the frequent floods of late along the Danube the changes in the level of the river are carefully observed.”
So – on June 29th, when the Danubean countries mark the Day of river, they also celebrate the common history of these countries, their shared European cultural and religious traditions, their joint efforts. The aim is also to raise public awarness of the current state of the Danube and other rivers, waters and their environment. We want to draw public attention to the importance of protecting the rivers and their environment, to the importance of flood prevention and of supporting all those whose future and fate depend on the these rivers.