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Inquirer News Article - 01/22/2004
The Philippine “Happy Earth”-Organization is winner of the international Environmental Communication Award The Philippine “Happy Earth”-Organization wins the Environmental Communication Award for its’ pioneer work to encourage children to deal with environmental issues and trigger them into concrete action. Of note were the organization’s children’s book “Are You the Forest King?” the international jury called “original and attractive illustrated and a positive example for successful environmental information for children”. The “Happy Earth”-Organization, founded in April 2001, seeks to increase support for the renewal of the planet and its peoples by producing highly effective eco-educational materials and forge linkages with various environmental and non-environmental organizations. “Are You the Forest King?” was written by Ms. Penny Reyes-Velasco as a protest to the forest degradation in the Philippines and campaigns for their restoration. Ms. Reyes-Velasco, an artist working with pressed flowers and co-founder of the organization, illustrated the book with flowers and plants which were later photographed in full colour. The book is linked with the pioneering program “Adopt a Native Tree”. Each copy sold comes with a native tree seedling which buyers of the book may opt to plant by themselves in their schools or homes or give it to one of the sponsored forest projects, such as the watershed rehabilitation, development and protection project in the La Mesa Watershed. Jury member and President of the German based European Nature Heritage Fund (Euronatur), Claus-Peter Hutter, reported that “the jury was impressed with the originality and artistic quality of the work.” While a number of children’s books and educational materials had been published with the same goals behind them, jury member Dr. Paciencia P. Milan, President of the Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA), Philippines, accentuated “that this book is exceptional in the innovative way, it addresses children and adults and involve them in an effort to solve environmental problems. Michael Hanssler of the Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development explained that “involving children in an interesting and effective environmental education, adds new voices in support of sustainable development.” The “Happy Earth”-Organization received the “institution and initiatives” award. The “individual achievement” award went to an environmental author and journalist in Portugal, Ms. Luisa Schmidt. The winner for “corporate achievement” went to the DaimlerChrysler Corporation. The Environmental Communication Award was created to encourage the expansion of sustainable development initiatives and to recognize those industries, organizations and individuals that effectively communicate their efforts. It is a joint initiative of the “European Nature Heritage Fund” (Euronatur) and the “Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development” under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). For further inquiry: European Nature Heritage Fund (Euronatur) Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development e.V. |