US Consul General Kenneth Fairfax encourages people to make a difference on climate change

The US State Department’s “Change Your Climate, Change Our World” video contest aims to help Vietnamese get involved in the fight for the environment, said US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kenneth Fairfax.

In the 2nd annual contest held by the department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), participants aged 14 and older from around the world can submit videos of less than two minutes in length related to climate change.

One winner in each of four categories – 14-17 years old, 18+ years old, non-US citizen and US citizen – will receive an allexpense-paid, two-week cultural exchange program to the US (for non-US winners) or from the US to another nation to be determined (for US winners).

“The fundamental statement for the environmental movement is Think Globally, Act Locally,” Fairfax said at the ceremony.

He said the problem was that many people don’t believe climate change is real or important and they don’t do anything.

“This video competition moves from science to policy: how do you convey the message to people?” he said. “Through a video, you can educate people about how small changes in your lifestyle changes the globe.”

Fairfax said anyone could use a more efficient motorbike or walk, use fewer plastic bags and see what things around the house can be reused.

The top 40 video entries to the contest from around the world will be chosen by members of the Exchanges Connect social network and the entries will then be ranked by the ECA to select the Grand Prize winners.

In last year’s competition, three of the top 40 videos around the world came from Vietnam, said Fairfax.

Not ready yet

Asked if he could do as UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon does and drive to work in an electric car, Fairfax said Vietnam wasn’t ready for electric cars yet. “You can’t do that in Vietnam today because there’s no place to charge.”

But he also said the fact that Moon drives an electric car to work was “wonderful.”

“The problem is not just building good [electric] cars but also building stations. Today gasoline has a monopoly. And for electric motorbikes, we have to wait for the infrastructure to be built.”

He said eco-friendly infrastructure was a big challenge for major cities in the US like Los Angeles and other cities with large pollution problems.

All videos for “Change Your Climate, Change Our World” must be submitted to http://connect.state.gov. The contest closes on January 12, 2010 and winners will be announced on March 2, 2010.

Reported by Tuong Nhi