and encouragement of Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB).

Just last September KBB Merit Awards went to some 30 individuals, organisations and companies who were honoured for their contributions to Bermuda's environment.

The ceremony was hosted at Bacardi headquarters on Pitts Bay Road where Lord and Lady Waddington presented the awards.

A founding member and past president of KBB, Mrs. Phyllis West-Harron was recognised for more than 50 years of environmental service.

Three Members of Parliament, then Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, PLP MP Mr. Nelson Bascombe, and Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward, were all recognised for their contributions as politicians.

Many others, said then KBB president Mr. Barry Brewer, deserved awards, both those nominated and those no-one knew about.

"There are so many people who give without telling anyone they're doing something for the environment,'' said Mr. Brewer.

Environment-conscious people were important to Bermuda because "we live in a very small, crowded Island, and every bit of green is important.'' Ms Kendaree Burgess-Fairn, the new president of KBB, said the organisation preferred positive reinforcement to negative measures such as boycotting or publishing the names of eco-offenders.

"People like to be rewarded for doing good,'' she said. KBB has two awards schemes: the Merit Awards, which are presented to organisations and individuals, and the President's Award, which is "a single award to a company that does the most for the environment in a particular year.'' In 1992, the Bermuda Paint Company received the President's Award for its introduction of lead-free paints. KBB, however, isn't the only group recognising the work of the environmentally conscious. The National Trust was thinking of publishing the names of "green'' shops and businesses in their newsletter, said environmental officer Ms Toby Butterfield. And Government's Waste Management Department was issuing stickers to restaurants and businesses who actively recycle, so that consumers could see who's green and who's not, said Waste Education and Enforcement Officer Ms Jane Brett.

International accolades were received by environmentalists when a weekend conference last September highlighted the Island's efforts to stem development. The pilot "Bermuda Summit'' included over 100 engineers from Japan, the United States, Britain, India and Mexico. A group of Government officials also attended.

The theme was "Facilitating Sustainable Development -- The Role of the Engineer''. The Bermuda Plan 1992 came under scrutiny by engineers because of its relevance.

Environment Minister, Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, stressed the new plan was groundwork for Bermuda's future.

"The factors affecting the protection of the environment are primarily technology, economics and politics,'' said past president of the Bermuda Association of Professional Engineers Mr. Gregory Gosling.

Locals could gain a great deal from the issues debated at the conference, he said.

Bermuda, however, did not send a delegation to the 1992 Rio World Earth Summit, and that sparked a protest from Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward: "Bermuda, the most environmentally unsound country in the world, is one of a handful of small nations that have refused to send an official delegation to the Earth Summit,'' Mr. Hayward reportedly said.

His words appeared in a New Scientist article, prompting an angry response from Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto.

She was "appalled'' at Mr. Hayward, and suggested he was running down Bermuda "to polish his image as an environmental guru''.

Mr. Hayward also told Conde Nast magazine Bermuda was "the number one polluter on the globe''.

"We still have a long way to go,'' admitted Trust officer Ms Butterfield.

MR. BARRY BREWER -- `We live in a very small, crowded island, and every bit of green is important.'