HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will send two entries to an international photo and poster contest on environmental protection, launched by United Nations in Vienna.

The entries were chosen from among 2,500 other entries in a similar national contest launched in June by the General Department of Environment under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Global Environment Fund.

The national contest aimed to portray the environmental pollution in Việt Nam and seek reasonable and prompt solutions for protecting the environment.

It is also expected to contribute to raising public awareness, particularly among the younger generation, of environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.

In the photo category, themed "Open burning – Impact on health and environment," the national winner was Đào Xuân Đức, a high school student from Hà Nội’s Xuân Mai High School, who presented a piece featuring smoke from a burnt rice field after harvesting.

In the poster drawing category, themed "3R – For a brighter future," the winner was Trần Hồng Thiện, an eighth grader from Bến Tre City Secondary School in southern Bến Tre Province, with a poster depicting children, 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recyle) and a happy green globe.

Thiện said the poster was inspired by her literature teacher, who told her class that when the earth is green and clean, people are happy.

Together with Đức and Thiện, 30 young people were awarded second, third and consolation prizes and two prizes for the most popular works.

The organising board presented two first, four second, six third and 20 consolation prizes, worth VNĐ10 million (US$440), VNĐ5 million, VNĐ3 million and VNĐ1 million each, respectively, for the most outstanding entries.

Vice head of the General Department of Environment Hoàng Văn Thức said at the award ceremony, “Photography and art can bring us shades of emotions and feelings. A photo, a picture, a sound, a single action, if combined together, could make a great difference in awareness and actions.”

He called on people, particularly young people, to join the movement to improve awareness of environmental pollution and ways to protect the environment. — VNS