HCM City (VNA) –The winners of aphoto contest titled “Portrait air, expose pollution,” which aims to raisepublic awareness of environmental protection, were announced at a ceremony inHo Chi Minh City on April 16.
The contest was held by the Centre ofHands-on Action and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE) and 350.org- a nonprofit organisation – with sponsorship of the German Consulate Generalin Ho Chi Minh City and support of the municipal Department of NaturalResources and Environment.
The organisation board selected the best 11of more than 700 entries sent to the contest, comprising a first prize, twosecond prizes, three third prizes and five consolation prizes.
First prize went to Nguyen Thanh Chung witha photo on the northern thermo-power centre. The second prizes were earned byPham Huy Dang with a photo themed “Collecting rubbish” and Le Van Cuong with aphoto named “Bao Loc- city covered in smoke.”
The winning works, together with 23 other outstandingphotos, will be displayed at an exhibition in HCM City’s district 1 from April17-28. After the exhibition, they will be introduced at five other venues in thecity.
Addressing the ceremony, German DeputyConsul General in HCM City Daniela Scheetz said in 2015, 3.5 billion people incities worldwide breathed unsafe air, and about 4 million died due to airpollution-related causes.
She cited the 11th of 17sustainable development goals (SDG) set by the the United Nations, which callsfor international efforts in building sustainable cities and communities by workingfor clean and pure air.
The diplomat suggested Vietnamese people usepublic transport, reduce use of plastic products and replace them with environmentallyfriendly materials and economically use energy to help the planet.-VNA