Globo Verde Dominicano is Extending the Period of Submissions until July 30

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GFDD Launches Google Earth Tour of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Dominican Republic  

Globo Verde Dominicano is Extending the Period of Submissions until July 30

New York, July 11, 2012

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GFDD Launches Google Earth Tour of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Dominican Republic  

GFDD Launches Google Earth Tour of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Dominican Republic

New York, June 27, 2012

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Certification Ceremony for Participants of the First-Ever DREFF Expedition to Pico Duarte  

Certification Ceremony for Participants of the First-Ever DREFF Expedition to Pico Duarte

New York, June 21, 2012

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Rio + 20 Audience Experience Educational Aquatic Tour of the Dominican Republic  

Rio + 20 Audience Experience Educational Aquatic Tour of the Dominican Republic

Rio de Janeiro, 6/17/2012

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Rio + 20 Audience Experience Educational Aquatic Tour of the Dominican Republic  

Rio + 20 Audience Experience Educational Aquatic Tour of the Dominican Republic

Rio de Janeiro, 6/17/2012

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Students at Centro Educativo Los Prados Will Experience Organic Agriculture First-Hand Through DREFF's School Program  

GFDD to Coordinate Panel on Environmental Education Tool, Ocean in Google Earth, at Rio + 20

New York, June 7, 2012

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Celebrate the Month of the Environment with the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival  

Celebrate the Month of the Environment with the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival

New York, June 5, 2012

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DREFF Raises Awareness of the Environmental and Human Health Risks  

DREFF Raises Awareness of the Environmental and Human Health Risks Associated with Solid Waste

New York, June 1, 2012

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Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival Joins Forces with Universidad APEC to Celebrate 2012 Environment Week  

Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival Joins Forces with Universidad APEC to Celebrate 2012 Environment Week

New York, May 31, 2012

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DREFF Will Present Discussion Panel on National Recycling Initiatives and Screening of Documentary Film Bag It!  

DREFF Will Present Discussion Panel on National Recycling Initiatives and Screening of Documentary Film Bag It!

New York, May 20, 2012

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Students at Centro Educativo Los Prados Will Experience Organic Agriculture First-Hand Through DREFF's School Program  

Students at Centro Educativo Los Prados Will Experience Organic Agriculture First-Hand Through DREFF's School Program

New York, April 23, 2012

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In Honor of Earth Day, DREFF Premiers Film, One Day on Earth, in Santo Domingo, DR  

Earth Day

New York, April 22, 2012

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DR Environmental Film Festival Bring School Vegetable Garden Initiative to the Loyola and Calazans Schools in Santo Domingo  

DR Environmental Film Festival Bring School Vegetable Garden Initiative to the Loyola and Calazans Schools in Santo Domingo

New York, April 16, 2012

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DREFF Reaches New Heights with First-Ever Expedition to Pico Duarte

DREFF Reaches New Heights with First-Ever Expedition to Pico Duarte

New York, 4/10/2012

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival's first-ever expedition to Pico Duarte exceeded expectations. Over the course of the four-day trek, forty-five students from three Dominican high-schools -- Centro de Excelencia Media Profesora Cristina Billini Morales "Fe y Alegria", Centro de Excelencia República de Colombia, and Centro Educativo República de Guatemala – had the opportunity to scale the Dominican Republic's highest summit alongside Dominican professional mountaineer and seasoned Everest trekker, Karim Mella.

 

The students were accompanied by 20 other staff members, including GFDD representatives, professional climbers Steve Maison and Zachary Zaireff, a doctor, a cook, a musician, a photographer and 10 volunteers.

 

GFDD and FUNGLODE equipped students with gear that consisted of backpacks, coats, gloves, hats, t-shirts and flashlights. Prior to ascending, the students were prepped by the expedition's official doctor on the importance of hydration, feel maintenance and other important aspects related to hygiene and trail maintenance.

 

The expedition also included lectures by the students' teachers on the geography of the Cordillera Mountain Range, rivers, fauna, flora, the climate of the Dominican Republic, environmental protection, forest fires, reforestation and first aid, among other topics. The students also received a briefing by the director of Parque Nacional J. Armando Bermúdez on the various habitats and terrains that exist within the park.

 

The innovative initiative was the outcome of the first edition of the Festival, celebrated in September 2011, and the resulting national and international network that emerged. The expedition provided participating students with the unique chance to develop an emotional connection with nature.

 

An important message of the trek was to impart in students the importance of leaving the park cleaner than they found it.

 

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) hope that the momentous experience will live in the hearts and minds of the student participants long after the expedition, and will instill within them a profound respect for the natural environment and its resources.

 

The expedition to Pico Duarte reflects DREFF's overall mission to interact with leading figures in the environmental community and to make a difference. The Festival aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of environmental issues among Dominican audiences. At the same time, the Festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Dominican Republic's natural heritage and offers insights intended to contribute to its appreciation, conservation and sustainable use.

 

The participating students were selected based on their ability to express in writing the importance of forests and natural resources in the Dominican Republic. The expedition was made possible thanks to collaboration with Dominican professional mountaineers Karim Mella and Federico Jovine.

 

About Karim Mella and Federico Jovine:

Cirujano que separó siamesas recibe condecoración Karim Mella and Federico Jovine formed part of the first Dominican expedition to Mount Everest, realized in 2011. Both climbers have scaled Pico Duarte over fifty times, and united with other Dominican mountaineers to scale the tallest mountain of each continent, to be the firsts to plant the Dominican flag.

 

DREFF

GFDD

 

 

 

Connect with GFDD and DREFF on Twitter and Facebook to get access to live interviews during the expedition, photos and up-to-the-minute accounts. Tweet your questions and comments and become part of the conversation.

Join us in celebrating the Second Edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, to take place September 5-9, 2012!

 

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