Ecologists set up fair in Paseo Marítimo

An environment fair was held yesterday in the Santo Domingo gardens of the Paseo Marítimo, but as it was not widely announced, it had to make do with casual passers by. It was set up by the Balearic government's ministry of the environment, the Council of Majorca and the Calvia council and seven environmental groups. They offered visitors written and video-taped information on their activities in the field of protecting the environment. The groups were the Fundacio Deixalles, Friends of the Earth, Friends of Parks, the assocaition of recyclers of the Balearics, SOS Veri, GOB and Mallorca Recicla. The fair opened at 10am and continued until the evening. One of the first visitors was environmental minister Margalida Rosselló, who belongs to the Greens. There were games and workshops to show visitors the importance of defending, preserving and protecing the environment, which forms part of the programmes of the environmental groups taking part. Activities included recycling, making compost heaps, water desalination and advice on how to save water at home and in the work place. June 5 has been declared World Environment Day by the United Nations, which yesterday said that the number of poor was increasing, as is the pollution and destruction of the environment. Inequality between countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, is also on the increase, its said in a report.