Torquay, UK, Composer, Percussionist, and Environmentalist Donald Knaack (aka The Junkman™) has been appointed the Ambassador of Arts Education for the UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark, based in Torquay.

Along with this appointment comes the announcement that the production of Knaack’s 5th Annual Global Junkjam will now become a joint effort between Knaack and the UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark.

Executive Lead for Tourism, Culture and Harbours, Cllr Nicole Amil: “This great event will take place 18 October, 2018, at 12noon from The Space at Cockington Court, which is part of the UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark.

“The one hour Global Junkjam will unite the English Riviera Global Geopark with nine additional UNESCO Global Geoparks around the globe via the internet on Google Hangouts. Each of the participating sites will host some 30 to 70 pupils at their Geopark locations.”

The event will be a worldwide celebration of Mother Earth and a call-to-action for a healthier planet through the use of music-making, social responsibility, and environmental conscience.

Confirmed UNESCO Global Geopark participating sites are located in United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Romania, Iran, China, New Zealand, and two sites in Canada. In advance of the event, the students in each participating site will research environmental issues specific to their geographic region as well as solutions to solve those issues.

These solutions will then be simplified into very short Eco-chants the pupils will chant and play on reused materials during the event. Examples are: We should ne-ver waste wa-ter, Take less time-in the sho-wer, or Al-ways throw it in the bin.

The event will be made available live on all major social media platforms, which will enable an estimated 4000 additional students to experience the event. There will also be an additional After-Jam social media campaign to enlist some 24,000 music and science students and teachers throughout the UK.

Melanie Border, Coordinator of the UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark states, “We are delighted to have Donald on board and look forward to his adventurous programming providing new and exciting artistic events that will draw an entirely new audience - bringing science, culture and art and music lovers to our Geopark. His Global Junkjam will help us to make significant contributions to the UNESCO commitment to bring various UNESCO Geopark sites worldwide together to interact and produce new ideas and partnerships.”

Donald Knaack remarked, “I am happy and honoured to be a part of this amazing UNESCO organisation. I am most excited about the opportunity to reach out and expand contacts with fellow Geoparks thought the world in order to create programs and educational opportunities to actually bring us all closer together in the quest for a united, world-wide consciousness for a cleaner and healthier planet.”

For further information contact:

Melanie Border, Coordinator, UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark - +44 (0)1803 207358

Amy Meade, Business Manager of Junk Music™ with The Junkman™ - + 44 07796 897 715