MEDIA ADVISORY: Book Launch and Panel Discussion - Voice and Choice: Opening the Door to Environmental Democracy

WHAT: In honor of World Environment Day, the World Resources Institute and The Access Initiative will hold a book launch and panel discussion to detail a wealth of new findings on how well national governments around the world are doing in the areas of transparency, public participation, and accountability in decision-making about the environment.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 5, 2008
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Food and drinks will be served at a reception after the event.)

WHERE: World Resources Institute
10 G Street NE, Suite 800, Washington DC 20002
(Metro: Red Line to Union Station)

David Hunter, director, Program on International and Comparative Environmental Law at Washington College of Law, American University

Lalanath de Silva, director, The Access Initiative

Joseph Foti, associate, The Access Initiative

Tomás Severino, director, Cultura Ecológica, Mexico City, Mexico

WHY: Sustainable development depends on the ability of the public to know about and participate in decisions about the environment. Efforts in dozens of countries to promote this “access” show a history of uneven progress. The new book, Voice and Choice: Opening the Door to Environmental Democracy, provides new findings about 26 countries on six continents. It also highlights innovations in these countries that have improved public participation, including freedom of information acts and access to courts.

RSVP:
Jonathan Talbot, media officer, +1(202) 729-7828, jtalbot@wri.org
Paul Mackie, director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org