fim environment newsletter - issue #2

F É D É R A T I O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D E M O T O C Y C L I S M E 1 1 , R O U T E D E S U I S S E - C H - 1 2 9 5 M I E S

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FIM Environment Newsletter ISSUE #2, October 2011

“Way forward”

ForewordSustainable motorcycling Reading an article written by Lain Lindsey, (Lindsey, L. 2008) member of the College of Education at the University of Southampton, UK, in which conceptualising sustainability in sports development, arose the idea of devoting this second edition of our newsletter to the concept of sustainability in motorsport that every day is ubiquitous and key in the sector. The term sustainability comes after the emergence of a Report on our common future (1987-1988) coordinated by Gro Harlem Brundtland, chair of the Brundtland Commission, officially the World Commission on Environment and development (WCED). It is defined by: "…meet our needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The term, in spite of being a concept that is present in many of the global economic agendas and currently in that of sports, shows a lack of clarity to some individuals. The concept of sustainable motorcycling could be defined as the ability to lead the motorcyclist sport, in all its events, generating social and economic development, preserving resources to allow for future generations' access to this, consequently providing credibility among our stakeholders.

Sustainability in our sport is one of the most important pillars of the FIM Strategic Plan driven by our President, Mr Vito Ippolito. There is a long way to go: our community is wide and diverse, but our task is to continue educating, creating awareness and ensuring that this concept will be respected by our users.

RIDE GREEN!

By Katia Hernandez

CIE Director

F I M - L I V E . C O M


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From Slovenia Dear Ms Katia Hernandez and all members of the CIE Commission, I would like to congratulate you and the CIE Commission on the release of the first FIM Environment Newsletter. Congratulations, it is excellent! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mojca Fingušt and I come from Slovenia. Three years ago I passed the seminar for the FIM Environmental Steward. Since then I have participated at international FIM and UEM Motocross Events that were held in Slovenia. I am also a member of the AMD Orehova vas club and this July we were the organiser of one of the races for FIM MX3 & WMX Motocross World Championship. At the event I was the appointed Environmental Steward and I was also the Secretary of the Race Direction. A month before the event I came across the FIM Environmental Newsletter. Your introduction on inspiration and inspiring others really drew my attention. And by the time I was finished reading the Newsletter I was so inspired that I started to plan my own "inspirational speech" for the members of our club. A couple of days later we prepared our own "green campaign" that we were going to present at the event. We prepared a logo and a pamphlet where we addressed all the participants (the organiser, riders, mechanics, and guests) at the event on how they can help to preserve our environment and help us with the promotion of environmentally friendly motocross. We even prepared little "green packages" (a garbage bag, timetable and the pamphlet for environmentally friendly behaviour at the event) for the riders and their teams. Our goal was to remind them about the regulations that are written in the FIM Environmental Code and to educate the spectators on how they can be more "green". We also prepared T-shirts with our logo “MX with a green touch”. Our mission also attracted the media and I can say with confidence that it was a successful green action. We are also going to continue with our mission at our National motocross championship. And for all this, I must thank you and the Newsletter for inspiring me to become more active. Thank you. I was wondering if there is a possibility that I could present our story, our "green campaign" in the following issue of the Newsletter? You inspired me and perhaps our story will inspire someone else to take action and realize that the terms "Environment" and "Motocross" are actually compatible. Thank you in advance for reading this letter. Enclosed in this e-mail you will find our logo, layout of the T-shirt, a copy of our pamphlet and a photo of the “green package” for the riders. I look forward to hearing from you. With kind regards Mojca Fingušt FIM Environmental Steward AMD Orehova vas, Slovenia

READERS’ COMMENTS





The Enduro in the mountains of Andorra is possible! FIM Enduro World Championship - FMA Andorra September 2011 The day when the President of the FMA (Andorra Motorcycle Federation) proposed to us the possibility to organise a World Championship of Enduro in Andorra, we, as Environmental Stewards of the FIM, did not quite agree because Enduro is one of the motorcycling disciplines that a greater negative impact could cause to the environment. Finally, it was possible to organise it thanks to the teamwork of our Federation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Andorra, Foresters of the City Council of Sant Julià de Loria (the city where the competition took place) and the help of citizens and neighbours. The work with the Ministry of Environment began by choosing the ideal place for the Enduro track. We were escorted on site with maps of the country's biodiversity (fauna and flora), to choose places where the passage of motorcycles and the public would not damage sensitive areas. A few weeks after the competition, we met again to verify the entire track. We found that there were no ribbons, papers, used oil containers, etc., and, above all, that the ground vegetation was recovering. On this last point, the day after the competition, the team of foresters of the City Council of Sant Julià de Lòria was responsible for flattening the ground of the most damaged forest area (Enduro Test). We are beginning an investigation into the recovery of the lower forest vegetation in order to verify that it is able to regenerate itself after a competition of this type and to know how long this is possible. Our job is to cordon off a riders’ track impacted, on one side by the wheels of the motorcycle riders and on the other side by the public, and to photograph it monthly to check its status and evolution and thus ensure that in the coming years it is again possible to organise an event like this. To summerise, we have been able to organise an Enduro event, in an area of high mountains with positive results in respect for the environment, through collaboration and, above all, the awareness increasing of organisers, teams and the public. The forest is grateful for the help of all those involved! Natalia Gallego and Carla de Juan, FMA, Environmental Stewards of the FIM





FROM CONTINENTAL UNIONS & NATIONAL FEDERATIONS

Chronicle – Latin American Environment

Creative and Innovative, making the difference Going to South America! On August 6 and 7, a Latin American motorcycle celebration took place in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, the Brazilian Amazon. As part of the MX2 Continental Championship, FIM Latin America held the second round of the 2011 series in Pimenta Bueno, Rondonia. As the FIM Latin America Environmental Commission Director, I was invited as observer, only to verify that all environmental issues were taken care of. After almost a day of travelling (since I live in Guatemala), I arrived at the track and all of a sudden I started to discover not only a very distinguished team, but a perfect and well engineered strategy to preserve our natural resources.

Well planned! A well thought-out idea was planned for this event. Especially the pre race details. The Rondonian Federation built an extraordinary water filter, to recycle the waste water from the motorcycle washing area. Thanks to that, the race did not need to use new fresh water, showing an example of innovative ideas to take care of the environment.

Water filter, to recycle the waste water from the motorcycle washing area.

Along with the environmental steward assigned to the competition, Mrs Catia Selhorst, I was taken on a tour to another race facility initiative, a solid waste recollection centre. I was surprised to notice that the same space was also used to separate recyclable materials, such as aluminium and PET, by the way, to be sold after the event. The organiser promotes socially responsible behaviour among the spectators by giving them the opportunity to donte food to non-governemental organisation. It was calculated that for this event, the price of one entry was the equivalent of 1 kilogramme of food. Besides that, we even had a special ceremony, where officials and riders had a chance to plant a tree in the middle of the Amazonia, an experience that I will never forget. Before the race, I presented Mr Reinaldo Selhorst, the promoter, with a special recognition to congratulate him on all the work and effort done for this Latin American event.





By Ovidio Morales

CIE officials, go beyond … Environmental officers, more than a watchdogs, have become facilitators of the compliance of the commitments required of the organiser. By assuring that the rules are followed, indicators and numbers are not only achieved, but there is also a culture of permanent and continuous improvement on all motorcycle events. The objective is that the environmental culture transcends the motorcycle events to influence and transform better individual life projects in our sport community.

“It’s all in our own interest!” That was the focal point of discussion and presentation about the FIM “Ride Green” initiative. Some sixty boys and girls between 8 and 18 as well as several adults who participated in the famous DMV Trial Summer Camp at the Motor Sports Club MSC Grossheubach (Germany) took the opportunity to learn more about the FIM strategy on sustainable sports development and about the responsibilities of each motor sports activist. Well organised by former Trial World Champion Iris Krämer the summer camp attracts a lot of young riders and Iris felt this would be the right occasion for an invitation to an after dinner presentation and debate about the environmental issues of the well beloved sports. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Ziegahn, a professional environment and energy research manager, chairman of the DMSB environmental committee, German member of the CIE and the FIM Working Group on Alternative Energies, introduced the main issues of a responsible care for the environment. He addressed the obligations for organisers as well as for teams, riders and spectators. FIM issued more than a decade ago the “Environmental Code” and it has been updated almost annually. FIM requires the nomination of licensed “Environment Stewards” at FIM events and sends out FIM delegates for supervisory missions. Karl-Friedrich successfully caught the interest of his young listeners by showing a lot of pictures about best practices but also less good examples based on his profound experience in many motor sports events including off-road but also road racing both on two and four wheels. The proper use of environmental mats is just one topic and already well applied but at the end of the day the mentality is important: “It’s all in our own interest! If we do not care for the environment ,somebody else from local authorities or ecologist organisations will do it, and that might result in some drastic measures against our sport.” Moreover, the future global world requires a sustainable development as such and each of us is challenged to contribute. Kids and teenagers are the real ‘entry level’ for those considerations and FIM offers a lot of concepts, best practices and also rules. As early as possible young riders shall be familiarised with green care and the active questions and answers session underlined that strategy. The DMV Trial summer camp in Germany added another best practice to that. By Karl-Friedrich Ziegahn

Kids are eager to keep the environment clean

Presentation of the project by Mr Reinaldo Selhorst, promoter, to the FIM Officials, Mrs Katia Hernandez, CIE Director, and local authorities.





Sustainability & Sport The reference book A new edited collection of essays entitled Sustainability and Sport, available through Common Ground Publishing Books, is a synthesis of contemporary insights and expertise offered by a group of thirty-four practitioners and academics in the field. The book includes a contribution from FIM about the relationship between motorcycling and the environment. This seminal book details insights from experts in making sport more sustainable, and in using sport to promote sustainability. It is a guide for good practice within the sports industry, as well as a research and knowledge exchange guide for the burgeoning field of sport and sustainability. A significant section of the book is devoted to fostering sustainability at main events, including perspectives on event management, sustainable development and urban regeneration, event legacies, corporate sponsorship activation, and maximizing engagement with sport event audiences. By Alex Goldenberg

FIM Environment seminar in Uruguay A recent day of training was conducted in Montevideo, Uruguay, last April with the participation of 22 people from different nationalities including Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and, of course, Uruguay. This environmental seminar shared with other sports seminars, was carried out at the Yacht Club in Montevideo and one of the most significant results was the presence of government representatives among the attendees. On the other hand the students most of them involved in the world of motorcycling, provided excellent ideas between them through case studies and drawing the concept of sustainable motorcycling. A significant planting of trees in the town of Miguelete was also organised by the Uruguayan Federation to give visibility and commitment to this event. The seminar was presented by the FIM Instructor Katia Hernández. The seminar was also attended by Mr Pedro Venturo Markoch, FIM Latin America President who obtained his environmental licence. By Katia Hernandez

Mr Pedro Venturo, FIM Latin America President, planting a tree with children after the seminar.


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FIM & UEM working together for a greener future Invited in June by the UEM President, Mr Vicenzo Mazzi, the CIE Director attended the UEM Congress held in Trevizo, Italy. The visit included participation in the meeting with the non sporting commissions group and subsequently the participation in the meetings of the UEM Environmental commission chaired by Mr Adamo Leonzio. For the CIE, it is extremely important to be in contact with the Continental Unions to learn about their needs, progresses and exchange experiences in the area of sustainability

By Katia Hernandez

Environment & FIM MX of Nations The FIM M.X. des Nations was certainly the largest motocross event of this year in the world: it can be considered as the Olympic Games for Motocross. This event was located in 2011 in France and organised by the Moto Club of St Jean d’Angély. This organiser has been aware of the importance of the environment for many years; he won the FIM Environment award in 2007. For the 2011 FIM MX of Nations, the Moto club did a supplementary effort in this context. A whole team was responsible for reducing as much as possible the impact of this event; all the members of the team were easy to see with the T-shirts and the electric car they used for their job. The goal was to leave only traces of our footsteps. Two days after the event the site was completely clean and it was impossible to imagine that 2 days before a worldwide event had taken place on this site. It is obvious that this achievement is the result of the FIM environmental policy. The environment has become, with this policy, a priority that the FIM shares with its promoters and partners. Today, the CIE is adapting its work and policy in accordance with reference to the strategic plan. It’s clear that the CIE has to listen to the requests of the population and the green lobbyists rembering that the aim of the FIM si also to promote our sport. However, it is only by respecting each other that motorcycling sport will survive. We still need to be vigilant on a daily basis and adapt our rules in a sustainable way and also preserve the FIM sporting rules and values which have always been the FIM’s priority. Remember: “RIDE GREEN”. By Paul Janssens

FIM and FIA cooperation in sustainability

CIE Director, Katia Hernandez, and CIE Coordinator, Alex Goldenberg, invited the newly appointed FIA Director of Sustainability, Mr Even Wiger, and Glus Glover, FIA Institute Director of Policy, for a working lunch in order to strengthen the relationship between both federations in the field of sustainability. Common environmental issues and exchange of good practices were discussed during this meeting. By Alex Goldenberg

fim environment newsletter - issue #2

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