Children's painting competition

Sponsored by the Luo Hong Environment Foundation and supported by the United Nations Environment Program, a nationwide painting competition began at the end of last month.

Entitled "The Earth, Our Home", the competition asks the question: "What can be done to make our earth cool down?" as global warming concerns grow.

The competition invites Chinese children from the ages of 7 to 14 to use creativity and imagination to draw what actions they can take to ease global warming and make the earth green. Collection of works will continue till March 31, 2008.

A panel composed of environmentalists, artists and child education experts will evaluate the entries. Results will be released on June 5, World Environment Day. Three top winners will be invited by UNEP to participate in an International Youth Environmental Protection Conference held from June 17 to 21 in Norway.

According to Achim Steiner, executive director of the UNEP, many people will come to know about environmental issues related to climate change through the competition and what action they can take to protect the environment.

(China Daily 01/05/2008 page8)