Panasonic honors children from 33 countries in Kyoto

Panasonic Corporation held a ceremony to honor winners of its Eco Picture Diary Global Contest at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan on Tuesday (Nov. 6). On June 3, 2011, Panasonic and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre signed a strategic partnership agreement to promote sustainable development through World Heritage conservation and environmental education for the next generation. The Eco Picture Diary Global Contest Ceremony was held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.
The contest is a program that gives children the opportunity to learn about environment issues while keeping track of their eco activities in a diary format. Approximately 300,000 children from 51 countries and regions participated in the 2012 Eco Picture Diary Global Contest. The national winners from 33 countries attended and were honored at the global ceremony in Kyoto. Each of the children gave a presentation of their unique eco activity in their respective countries. Many dignitaries attended this global event, including Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Artist for Peace ambassador and world famous soprano singer Sarah Brightman. In her speech, Bokova said: "The bright future lies in the hands of the children." She encouraged them to spread eco activities.
On Nov. 7, the day after the ceremony, the children visited Ryogaoka Elementary School in Kyoto to meet and interact with their Japanese counterparts. They enjoyed cultural exchange and challenged together to make a Japanese traditional craft called "uchiwa," a fan made of wood and paper. In the afternoon, the children visited Kiyomizu Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site in the ancient capital of Japan, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Eco Learning Program. In this program, students can visit and participate in an interactive environment for learning about World Heritage conservation activities in cooperation with UNESCO and World Heritage Sites.