DATE: 15 September 2011
SUBJECT: Clean Up the World 2011
Hanoi joins hands to protect the environment
With the Australian Embassy’s support, the Vietnam Environment Administration and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment will hold ‘Clean Up the World’ Day 2011 at Unification Park on Saturday 17 September from 8 am. The event is administered by the Vietnam Green Generation Network and Live & Learn.
Unification Park has been chosen for the event as it is one of Hanoi’s important ‘green lungs’. After collecting rubbish, volunteers, including students, officials and members of the local community, will be shown how to use recyclable rubbish and will participate in games to broaden their knowledge about environmental issues. Children will be able to paint their ‘dream green environment’. Participants that win rubbish collection competitions and games will receive prizes.
HE Mr Allaster Cox, Australian Ambassador, said, “The Australian Embassy is proud to have sponsored the Clean Up the World campaign in Vietnam since 1994. And I am personally happy to see that more local authorities, NGOs and volunteer groups in Hanoi are participating more positively and actively in efforts to protect their environment”. He added, “Like in previous years, Australian Embassy staff and their families will help to collect rubbish in Hanoi. The Embassy also hopes to soon be able to sponsor some lake protection projects so Hanoi can continue to be proud of its lakes.”
Mr Pham Van Khanh, Vice-Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resouces and Environment, also believes this is a good opportunity for organisations, enterprises, communities and individuals to join hands in protecting the environment. He said, “We hope that organisations and companies operating in Hanoi can show their social responsibility more often through specific activities to make Hanoi cleaner and greener.”
Mr Tran Phong, Director of the Centre for Environmental Training and Communication (of the Vietnam Environment Administration), stressed, “Individuals and organisations can show that they are responsible for protecting the environment by planting trees, collecting, treating and recycling rubbish, organising community training, competitions, and exhibitions about the environment, and recovering natural resources. Pressing environmental issues show it’s high time for people to be aware that this is “Our Place…Our Planet…Our Responsibility”.
In the 2010 Clean Up the World campaign, which was organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 4,622 cubic metres of rubbish were collected and treated, 377,044 metres of hedgerows were trimmed, 176,760 metres of sewage cannels were dredged, 5,381 wells were cleaned, 240 toilets were renovated, and 346 environment-related programs were aired on TV and radio (source: Vietnam Environment Administration).
Ms Do Van Nguyet, Director of the Live & Learn organisation, which supports the Green Generation Network’s activities, said, “The Clean Up the World campaign is an opportunity for young members of the Green Generation Network to positively contribute to protecting the environment. Through these events, we hope to further expand peoples’ spirit and sense of responsibility in protecting the earth’s green spaces. Small acts by individuals will make a big change.”
The ‘Clean Up the World’ campaign originated in Australia in 1993 and was made an international campaign by the UN Environment Program. Held in the third week of September every year, the campaign has become an important international event, with millions of participants from 130 countries.
For more information, please contact:
Ms Hà Thị Quỳnh Nga - Live&Learn and Green Generation Network
Email: [email protected] |T: 04-3718 6494 | M: 0983573009
Ms Đinh Thị Việt Anh – Australian Embassy
Email: [email protected] |T: 04-3774 0232 |M: 0903423440
Mr Nguyễn Đình Đáp – Centre for Environmental Training and Communication
Email: [email protected] |T: 04-2241 5275 |M: 0903285940
Ms Trần Thu Hương – Hanoi Environment Protection Agency
Email: [email protected] |T: 04-3786 8248 |M: 0906096466