E D I T O R I A L

  Following that wisdom, the Regional Environmental Center has produced its own newsletter, now known affectionately as The Bulletin, for some seven years. The Bulletin began as a typical newsletter, focusing on the REC's most recent developments, strategies, goals and dreams. And then it began to change.

  Its creators came to learn more and more about what is happening environmentally in the whole region - not just about what the REC was doing, but about what other organizations were doing - international, national and local governmental and nongovernmental organizations, funders and lenders, business and media, academics and citizens. Now the REC's area of coverage has expanded to include 15 countries, from Albania to Estonia, from the Czech Republic to Romania.

  In other words, The Bulletin is growing up. And as with anything alive and dynamic, changes have to be made. We have followed the natural evolution of this publication and we've decided to take the next step. To change it from being simply an organizational newsletter to more of an environmental magazine/journal for the entire Central and Eastern European region, covering everything from policy development to local success stories to cutting edge environmental news and analysis.

  But first, it needs a better name. There are many fine "Bulletins" out there, but the REC wants a new name that is creative, unique and related to the environment and the CEE region. For this endeavor, we'd like your help.

  So we are asking residents in the region, including REC staff, for suggestions for a new name. Let us know and we'll be sending the winner three REC T-shirts, a REC 1998 Endangered Species Calendar and credit in the next issue of The (formerly named) Bulletin. Or just do it for a possible route to posterity. Please send your suggestions to: (e-mail: editor@rec.org, fax: (36-26) 311-294).

Paul Csagoly  
Editor of The Bulletin  

A glimpse of the forest before the action