SANTIAGO, CHILE--(Marketwire - May 17, 2011) - In a hopeful sign for our global environment, today Chile became the first country to commit to have all schools in their country undertake and share environmental projects to improve our Earth. Chilean schools will work on projects locally to improve air, water, and earth while collaborating with schools in countries around the world on a new and innovative social networking site called Project Earth.
At the Liceo Industrial Chileno Alemán in Santiago, the Minister of Environment, María Ignacia Benítez kicked off the country-wide program. "We are very excited about this project, for it will allow our schools to share their environmental initiatives with the world. Our children will work on projects to improve our global environment and collaborate with other schools worldwide. This will allow our students to learn how to be more sustainable, and share with many other cultures and countries that use advanced technology."
On hand for the news conference and tree planting ceremony was Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E & E) president and CEO Kevin Neumaier. "We are very impressed with the environmental leadership that Chile has taken. Chilean children are now collaborating and sharing knowledge globally on Project Earth while they solve problems like climate change." Neumaier added, "Chile is leading an international movement to empower today's children to be the problem solvers of tomorrow. Whether in Chile, Russia, the Middle East or the United States, we are seeing the promise of a better and sustainable planet with the ideas and results students are documenting on Project Earth."
Developed by E & E, Project Earth (www.projectearth.net) is the premier social networking site for schools around the world to collaborate together on solving global environmental issues. Today over a thousand schools from 68 countries participate in Project Earth. Projects posted include text, photo and video components and range from local coastal clean-up activities to reducing energy use in their schools to creating innovative recycling programs. Through its Google Translate function, schools from around the world can review projects in multiple languages and send messages to their peers globally. Project Earth has hosted two Earth Day contests and is currently reviewing entries for its annual World Environment Day contest. Plans for a 2011 contest in Chile are underway.
Headquartered in the United States, E & E has completed more than 50,000 environmental projects for a wide variety of clients in 113 countries, providing environmental solutions in nearly every ecosystem on the planet. The company is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol EEI and is located on the Web at www.ene.com.