Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM) today announced that the 'Luxemburger Naturfotos für den Regenwald' exhibition, an initiative of Mayor of Contern, Fernand Schiltz, has raised a significant amount of money for an environmental organisation in Ecuador.

Mayor Schiltz reportedly devised the idea upon taking up office in autumn of last year, and decided in partnership with ASTM and Climate Alliance Lëtzebuerg to use his passion as an amateur photographer in creating a sales campaign of his pictures.

The photographic works, depicting the whole spectrum of local biodiversity through animals and landscapes, were displayed from 10 February until 26 March 2015 in the organic restaurant 'Casa Fabiana', and have now all found buyers.

"I would like to pass on my thanks to the buyers of my images, who showed with this gesture how important solidarity is - the solidarity of people here and in other countries, who, as opposed to us, must fight for the observance of their rights," said Fernand Schiltz at the presentation of the cheque, which took place at the Tiers Monde information centre, the Documentation Centre of ASTM.

A total €2,000 raised from the MAyor's photographs were handed to ASTM President Richard Graf, which will go towards the Ecuadorian organisation 'Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia' (FDA). The community of Contern decided to support this organisation within the framework of its Climate Alliance activities, and organised a long-term education and event programme dedicated to the Ecuador partnership from October 2015 to March 2015.

"The work of the FDA aims in the long term, especially through the conservation of natural foundations, for a sustainable was of life for the local population - to live in nature, without destroying it - which therefore fits seamlessly into the philosophy of ASTM and the Climate Alliance," explained Richard Graf, President of ASTM. "Education on sustainable development in Luxembourg is therefore also of decisive importance."

The FDA seeks to empower local communities through training in environmental and human rights, and draws on the help of local village development plans to maintain these territories by preventing the exploitation of its resources by multinational companies, particularly in the field of oil production. A notable example of the work done by the association is the case against Chevron-Texaco in 2011, whereby the latter received a penalty of around $9 billion as compensation for the environmental damage it caused.

Paul Polfer, National Coordinator of Climate Alliance Luxembourg, emphasised his hope that initiatives such as this would continue to spread awareness of the Climate Alliance, incorporating more and more communities into its scope.

 

Photos by ASTM (Top: L-R - Jean Feyder, Richard Graf, Birgit Engel, Paul Polfer, Ana Luisa Teixeira, Fernand Schiltz, Aminata Katia Aidara)