The City of Vaasa challenges residents to help protect the Baltic Sea

Through the campaign, Vaasa wishes to contribute to the protection of the Baltic Sea and to spark debate on this important issue. Whether for nature, business, living or leisure, the sea is an integral part of life in Vaasa. It’s also one of the first things that spontaneously comes to mind for people living elsewhere when they think of Vaasa

– Here we have a unique marine environment and Finland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. By campaigning for a clean Baltic Sea, we want to preserve our unique heritage and highlight the things we can all do to help protect nature, says Leena Forsén, Marketing and Communications Director of the City of Vaasa.

Donations can be made via MobilePay using the city’s dedicated phone number 15652. The campaign is organised under the money collection permit of the John Nurminen Foundation.

Donating to a campaign account is one way to make a difference and get involved, but Forsén says everyone can also have an impact through the choices they make.

– For example, by recycling, choosing green transport or eating more fish and vegetables, everyone can do a small, good deed that can make a big difference. We invite all residents, businesses and communities to get involved, says Forsén.

Bugsy as the face of the campaign

The campaign’s mascot is Bugsy, designed and made by Mirka Johansson, an art teacher from Vaasa.

– Bugsy loves swimming, exploring the archipelago and the seascape around Vaasa. It also loves doing good deeds, which makes it a perfect mascot for campaigning for the Baltic Sea, says Mirka Johansson.

Bugsy delighted the people of Vaasa already earlier this year as part of the city’s Year of Good Deeds campaign. According to Johansson, the idea for Bugsy came from a desire to highlight the importance of good deeds. Campaigning for the Baltic Sea was a natural continuation of the cooperation.

– In the spring, our campaign even gained national visibility. I am very happy if this way we can highlight the Baltic Sea and the need to protect it. The archipelago around Vaasa is unique in the whole world, Johansson points out.

Nature films on Baltic Sea Day at the Museum of Ostrobothnia and the Main Library’s Draama Hall

On Thursday 29 August, award-winning nature films from the Kvarken region, presented at the Vaasa Wildlife Festival, will be shown at Terranova in the Museum of Ostrobothnia. The films are Tuntematon Selkämeri (The Unknown Bothnian Sea) at 14.00 and Kvarkens Flador (The Flads of the Kvarken) at 15.00. The Umeå-based Swedish filmmaker Per Hansson will talk about his new film project set in the Kvarken at 15.15–16. Entrance to the nature film screenings is free.

The documentary Minun mereni (My Sea), directed by Ari Heinilä, will be screened in the Draama Hall of the Main Library at 18-19. The documentary will be shown free of charge in many Finnish towns and cities on Baltic Sea Day. The Baltic Sea Day film screening is an early kickoff to the Vaasa Wildlife Nature Film Festival, which will be held for the 12th time in Vaasa from September 25–29, 2024.

A book exhibition on the Baltic Sea is being organized in the children’s section of Vaasa City Library. On August 29, the Museum of Old Vaasa will host a workshop themed ‘Scents of the Sea’, which will run continuously throughout the day at 10 am – 5 pm.

Instructions for donation

• Log in to MobilePay and select “Send”
• Enter “15652” (John Nurminen Foundation and Vaasa) in the search field
• Enter the amount you want to donate and press “Continue”. After that, you can pay the donation by swiping the “Pay” button.

Collection information: John Nurminen Foundation. RA/2021/1341. ÅLR/2023/8710. Save the Baltic Sea and its heritage.