GLOBE ESTONIA FINDS PARTNERS IN ST.PETERSBURG

UNCLAS TALLINN 000164

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES
COPENHAGEN FOR EST OFFICE
MOSCOW FOR EST COUNSELLOR

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGLB POG EN
SUBJECT: GLOBE ESTONIA FINDS PARTNERS IN ST.PETERSBURG

REF: A) 05 TALLINN 00691 B) 06 TALLINN 00791


1. (U) Summary. In February, the Estonian GLOBE
Coordinator, along with six Estonian GLOBE teachers,
attended "GLOBE days in St. Petersburg." The three-day
event was the direct result of GLOBE Estonia's efforts
to assist St. Petersburg schools in becoming official
GLOBE member schools. It concluded with a plan for
concrete next steps forward - including pairing Estonian
and Russian schools and hosting a seminar in Estonia for
Russian teachers interested in the GLOBE program. End
Summary.


2. (U) Over the years, GLOBE Estonia has systematically
worked to find new partners in neighboring countries.
For example, in 2005 GLOBE Estonia invited a delegation
from St. Petersburg School No. 393 to participate in
GLOBE Estonia's "Northern Landscape" project. (REF A)
The following year, thanks to a grant from the ESTH
Regional Office in Copenhagen, the same school sent
representatives to GLOBE Estonia's 10th anniversary
event. (REF B) The Kirov region schools' interest in
becoming GLOBE schools, and the resulting "GLOBE Days in
St. Petersburg," are direct results of such outreach
efforts by GLOBE Estonia. (Note. GLOBE Estonia focused
its efforts on Kirov region because of a pre-existing
cooperation agreement between Estonia and the Kirov
region of St. Petersburg. End Note.) GLOBE Estonia
will develop an informal cooperation agreement with
schools in St. Petersburg's Kirov region.


3. (U) During the three-day "GLOBE days in St.
Petersburg" event, an Estonian GLOBE delegation
comprised of six teachers and Estonian GLOBE Coordinator
Ulle Kikas (along with Embassy Tallinn Economic
Specialist, Embassy Copenhagen Regional ESTH Office
Environment Specialist, and Consulate General St.
Petersburg Polecon Assistant) visited two St. Petersburg
high schools. The delegation also met with head masters
and teachers from five schools that have been actively
involved in ecological projects. During a roundtable,
Estonian GLOBE coordinator Ulle Kikas, along with the
Estonian GLOBE teachers, made presentations on GLOBE
protocols and shared stories about their successes and
challenges. The roundtable concluded with a joint
resolution that each participating Russian school would
be paired with a partner GLOBE school in Estonia to
determine areas of mutual interest, likely including air
and water projects. In addition, a teachers' seminar
will be organized in Estonia this spring for Russian
teachers interested in the GLOBE program. To become a
certified GLOBE school, at least one certified GLOBE
teacher must be on the staff. The Regional ESTH Office
in Copenhagen will partly sponsor the seminar in
Estonia.


4. (U) Comment. GLOBE Estonia has continuously
demonstrated its ability to combine science and
environment with multiculturalism. This is increasingly
evident not only in regards to the integration of ethnic
Russians in Estonia, but also with cross-border
grassroots cooperation. Although St. Petersburg schools
must still overcome challenges before becoming official
GLOBE schools - both due to lack of budget and support:
the Russian Ministry of Education is located in Moscow
and the Russian GLOBE coordinator is located in Rostov -
lots of cross-border good will, enthusiasm, and
determination resulted from the St. Petersburg event.
Encouragingly, the head of the St. Petersburg education
authority expressed his enthusiasm for future
cooperation with Estonian schools. Post greatly
appreciates the travel funds provided by the Regional
ESTH Office in Copenhagen. End Comment.

GOLDSTEIN