UNHCR Representative in Croatia, Mr. Wilfried Buchhorn and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Ms. Catherine Maria Trooster visiting the stand of the Prospero NGO from Gracac.

EKO FEST and United Nations Day: Power Green Growth, Protect the Planet

As a part of United Nations 64th anniversary celebrations on the 24th October, the UN agencies located in Zagreb, in partnership with the Association of Croatian Eco-Agricultural producers, celebrated the UN Day with a 3rd fair of ecological produce - EKO FEST. The fair was held on Friday and Saturday, 23rd and 24th October 2009 on Ban Jelačić Square.

This year EKO FEST was held under a slogan 'Power Green Growth, Protect the Planet' though which Croatian eco-producers joined the United Nations global campaign to combat climate change - 'Seal the Deal!'. Through this campaign, the United Nations call on world governments to reach a concrete and meaningful agreement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the Climate Change Conference in December in Copenhagen, and avoid the cataclysmic effects of temperature increases above 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Ecological agriculture is on of many ways in which we can contribute against climate change and its negative effects. During the EKO FEST visitors were able to taste ecological produce such as honey, olive oil, cow and goats cheese, various cereals, tofu, pickled vegetables and wine.

Within the scope of the manifestation five UNHCR supported associations and persons from areas of special state concern exhibited their handicrafts. These handicrafts support their efforts directed towards coexistence, socio-economic independence of women, and community wellbeing.