1. International Polar Foundation
The International Polar Foundation communicates and educates on Polar research as a way to understand key environmental and climate mechanisms. The IPF also promotes innovative and multifaceted responses to the complex challenges raised by the need for action on sustainable development.
Polar Regions & Climate Change
The International Polar Foundation believes that the polar regions and polar sciences are the best tools to convince our society to act now in order to mitigate the effects of climate change for future generations:
The polar regions play a key role in the global climate system of our planet;
The polar regions are our early warning systems in showing the pace and magnitude of climate change;
The polar regions are our archives. Earth's climate memory is recorded in their ice.
Activities
The IPF communicates with the general public on research in the polar regions through:
- Information: developing, supporting and encouraging projects that inform the public about polar science and how it improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change.
- Education: developing, supporting and encouraging innovative educational projects and materials to stimulate a positive public attitude towards polar science and action on climate change. This recognises the particular importance of outreach to the next generation which will experience the impacts of climate change on a great scale.
- Demonstration: developing, supporting and encouraging projects offering constructive responses to sustainable development issues. The IPF also seeks to lead by example - in the IPF's own activities the best available methods and techniques for clean development are used wherever possible.
2. The law firm CMS DeBacker supports and sponsors www.hoggar2004.be
The www.hoggar2004.be association gathers sportsmen animated by a cooperative project developed in the Great Algerian South and more precisely in Hoggar.
Every two years, a race on foot is organised in one of the areas of Hoggar (Assekram, Tchédeste, Tassili, etc) around Tamanrasset. The run kilometers are sold symbolically to finance the co-operative Kel2000 whose aim is to help the Tuareg women. The first donations allowed the project to start (notarial act of the co-operative) and the renovation of a room for the installation of a workshop where camping objects are being manufactured (costumes, tents, folding screens, etc).
Today there are 24 active co-operatives. In order to facilitate the marketing of the production of the workshop, the opening of a store in the centre of Tamanrasset was financed in 2007. The project of www.hoggar2004.be is recognised by the “Fondation Roi Baudouin”.
Other projects are under development. The next race between Illizi and Tamanrasset is planned for February 2009.