The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or - ?POPs ? ?Unknown Danger?? is the name of the suggested information- explicating campaign of the Association ?Missionis? with his partner ?the Public Relations Agency ?Media Planet? EOOD, Centre of regional development and Regional department ?Anti-fire and average safety?. This campaign is planned to continue about 6 /six/ months and will be accomplished at national and regional level /in the region of Targoviste town/. Project Financing is 66312 lv, SGP Grant Amount is 44070 lv. over all of 66,46 % of total amount.
The Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were called by the ecologists ?synthetic bombs within the living style?, because of the risk of their global invasion not only into the industry, but also in the people living standards. POPs are known by their ability to get accumulated within the fat textures of people and animals through the eating chain . According to the experts opinion thus will have its significant unfavorable consequences for all of us.
Realizing the danger from the POPs Bulgaria undersigned the Stockholm Convention on May 23, 2001. As a result of the committed engagements related to the Convention, the Ministry for Environment and Waters undertook a number of measures aiming to introduce to the public all problems caused by the Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and establishing of a institutional capacity in that regard. The national plan for acting and managing of the steady organic contaminants consists of series of measures for limiting of the dangerous effect of the POPs over the environment and the public health.
Despite of all state efforts, the precaution measures undertaken for enhancing of the public information regarding the POPs in Bulgaria are still partial and insufficient. Some information brochures and booklets are issued, but their circulation is limited. Not enough information concerning the steady organic contaminants reaches the single citizen. People are missing a clear knowledge, how exactly they look like, what are the potential risks, and- most of all- how could the ordinary man protect himself and limit the risk of them. Quite often the citizens cause themselves non intentional pollution with POPs through the household and agricultural burning processes.
According to the experts, the burning processes are the main source for dioxin and furan emissions. The generated POPs emissions in Bulgaria during the last five years show that, the power and heating plants are discharging about 49% from the total volume of dioxin and furan, followed by the burning processes within the households- 27 % and the burning processes in the industry and production.
The main object of the suggested information- educational program is to increase the knowledge of the public about POPs and their negative effect on the environment and the people health, while non regulated burning processes of agricultural and everyday lifestyle wastes and plastic articles are not limited.
The average Bulgarian citizen is not expected to solve the problem with the pesticides with expired validity date /which gradually fades away) neither the usage of some chemicals in the industry. But If he gets a sufficient information, he can recognize the risk from the burning of the plastic bag in the oven or the mass burning of the stalks in the fields. It is well known that the clear definition of a certain problem and its realization would create an active position for its avoiding.
This campaigns object is to deliver to the citizens enough and easy comprehensible information regarding the POPs and the danger from them, as at the same time it will give an opportunity for discussions of the problem and converting of the ordinary citizen into supporter of the cause for limitation of the POPs risk. For that purpose, when selecting project activities intentional are avoided heavy scientific conferences, meetings and discussions. The campaign will be conducted on a national level by using of various communication channels- printed and electronic editions . public discussions, provoking the interest through special designed occasions, direct distributions of information materials. The whole campaign will be lead on a regional level- within the district of Targoviste town. The implementation on each single level will be synchronized with the general objects and purposes of the campaign. The defined messages will be equal, the ways and steps only will vary depending on the individual groups, which are being designated.