It is time to begin celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the IPPC!

The 60th anniversary gives us the opportunity to not only celebrate the birth of the IPPC and the work it has accomplished, but also to enhance and expand awareness of the IPPC mission and work programme. In order to do this in the best possible way, we need your support, and most importantly, your active engagement. On 6 December 1951 the IPPC was conceived, and on 5 April 2012, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) will celebrate its 60th anniversary as it entered into force on 3 April 1952. To help celebrate this major achievement, we invite you to reflect on past work and to look ahead to emerging and new challenges in plant health. How can you join the celebration and promote the image and activities of the IPPC? Member countries could: * Actively participate in celebration-related events, particularly during CPM 7 in March 2012; * advertise and distribute materials relevant to the IPPC, and its 60th anniversary; * plan and organize your own events (in your country, in your region, in Rome and globally ) and share information about these both nationally and internationally; * provide historical materials (memorial photos/articles, stories at the time, videos, etc.) that can be used to highlight past success, future goals and as promotional material; * contribute to the IPPC Trust Fund (contact the IPPC Secretariat); * contribute by producing anniversary-related goods such as posters, pins, lanyards, stickers, calendars writing material etc.; * provide input to the 60th anniversary blog (https://www.ippc.int/60years/), and * suggest additional activities. Please contact the IPPC Secretariat to coordinate these activities. International/regional organizations could: * advertise and distribute materials relevant to the IPPC, and its 60th anniversary; * plan, organize and participate in celebration-related events and add a touch of the IPPC taste in your own events/meetings; * provide historical materials; and * suggest additional activities. Industry could: * advertise and distribute materials relevant to the IPPC, and its 60th anniversary; * organize your own IPPC promotional activities; * contact the Secretariat to coordinate activities; and * suggest additional activities. Individuals could: * learn more about the IPPC; * advertise and distribute materials relevant to the IPPC, and its 60th anniversary; * suggest additional activities; and * participate when possible in celebration-related events. There is a tremendous amount of work necessary before we formally launch this campaign in March 2012 and we will need as much as possible your active support and participation. For this reason we have also established an IPPC 60th Anniversary Organizing Committee to coordinate and process your suggestions and the activities. Contact IPPC Secretariat: [email protected], for further information. We are looking forward to hearing from you, celebrating this milestone and working with your to increase the profile of the IPPC!