Over 100 delegates from 10 ASEAN countries, along with three of the
group’s partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, attended a
ceremony to launch the 2012 ASEAN Environment Year in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia on July 17-18.
This year’s event themed
‘Environmental Awareness through Eco-Schools’ focused on the role
schools play in improving the awareness of their pupils on the
importance of protecting the environment and conserving nature.
At the opening ceremony, Malaysia ’s Minister of Natural Resources
and the Environment, Douglas Uggah Embas, said that schools foster and
form the thought processes that constantly question accepted norms and
standards for wise resource use and sustainability.
He
said he hopes there will be more regular exchanges of information on
environmental issues and a higher level of cooperation during the 2012
ASEAN Environment Year, to ensure the environment is protected in a
sustainable manner and natural resources are managed efficiently.
To highlight the occasion, the 2012 ASEAN Eco-Schools Award was
presented to 20 schools around ASEAN, including two from Vietnam,
for educating their pupils on environmental protection and promoting
environmentally friendly activities.
Truong Thi Cam
Tu, Vice-Principal of the Hanoi-based Thuc Nghiem Primary School ,
said it is a great honour for the school to receive the noble award in
recognition of its efforts to create a clean and pleasant learning
environment.
Le Mai Anh, the Vice-Principal of Chu
Van An Secondary School, also in Hanoi, said the award confirms the 100
year old school’s standing on environmental protection, not only at home
but also across the region. She added that the school will always be
seen as the capital city’s green lung.-VNA