Vietnamese and foreign photographers will be able to enter their photos on environmental protection in a contest launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Tap chi Nghe Nghiep va Cuoc Song (Career & Life) magazine.
Artworks made from plastic waste in Hanoi's Phuc Tan Commune. (Photo: VNS)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese and foreign photographers will be able toenter their photos on environmental protection in a contest launched by theUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Tapchi Nghe Nghiep va Cuoc Song (Career & Life) magazine.
Thephoto contest, entitled Cau Chuyen RacNhua (Story of Plastic Waste), aims to increase community awarenessabout environmental protection.
“Currently,Vietnam is one of the top five countries in the world discharging the mostplastic waste into the ocean,” said Chu Thi Ha, Editor-in-chief of the Career & Life magazine.
“Wehope that this photo contest will contribute to raising awareness of themanagement of plastic waste and somewhat limiting the amount of plastic wastedischarged to the environment.”
Thesubmitted photos must be taken from January 1 to April 30 in the coastalprovinces of Vietnam. Entrants are not allowed to use Photoshop to change thecontent and nature of their pictures.
Thecontest organisation board encourages photos from the southern provinces of BinhDuong and Binh Thuan, the central province of Binh Dinh and central Da Nangcity and the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Thephotos should focus on the spread of waste, which is not properly disposed ofin Vietnam; plastic waste in the ocean; the impact of plastic waste on theenvironment and ecosystem and to people, and waste treatment.
Contestantscan register at cuocthianh.mediamaxvietnam.vn untilMay 5.
Theorganisation board is calling on both Vietnamese and foreigners living in Vietnamabove 18 years old who are concerned about plastic waste to participate in thecontest. Each of them can send 20 photos.
Topprizes will be announced in the magazine and FacebookOcean or Plastic at the end of June. The top prizes will be awardedcash worth 1 million VND to 5 million VND (43 to 220 USD).
Althoughthere are no official statistics on the amount and varieties of plastic in theVietnamese sea and islands, plastic waste is easy to see in Vietnamese waters,with the country’s 112 estuaries the main gateways of plastic to the ocean.
Numbersfrom Vietnam’s Association of Plastic illustrate the scale of the problem. In1990, each Vietnamese consumed 3.8kg of plastic per year, but 25 years later,the figure hit 41kg.
Asmany as 1,000 plastic bags are used each minute but only 27 percent of them aretreated and recycled.
TheMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment estimated that about 80 tonnes ofplastic waste and bags are thrown away every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Citycombined.
Onthe positive side, Vietnam has taken efforts to manage imported plastic scrapand monitor plastic production and consumption./.
Nestle Vietnam has recently been honoured for its contributions to environmental protection in the 2017-19 period by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).
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The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Artworks made from plastic waste in Hanoi's Phuc Tan Commune. (Photo: VNS)
