USA and Philippines signed the Dept-for-Nature Swap (Sep. 23, 2002)

USA and Philippines signed the Dept-for-Nature Swap which the United States relieved U.S. $ 5.5 million dept. In return, the Philippine government will fund 8.2 million U.S. dollars for tropical forest conservation activities through local non-governmental organizations in the Philippines.

The agreement will facilitate the protection of tropical and coastal forest areas in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions, and will assist the survival of the endangered Philippine Eagle, the world's largest eagle and national bird of the Philippines, which depends on undisturbed forests.

Car Free Day succeeded in 1,321 cities worldwide (Sep. 16-23)

Initiated from France, Car Free Day event is now increasingly popular with 1,321 cities participation including 99 French cities.

The event, along with "in town without my car" campaign, is centred on three types of measures, designed to:
- encourage the use of alternative forms of transport and travel other than private cars,
- raise awareness and inform city-dwellers of what is at stake so far as concerns long-term mobility in towns and the risks connected with pollution,
- show the town in another light thanks in particular to reduced motorised traffic within restricted areas.

Cities participated in this event operated subway for free and let only public transportation and emergency vehicles drive in town under 30km/h speed limit.