International awareness campaign

Primary schools students across Australia are being given the opportunity to participate in an international awareness campaign on sustainable development, with the winning Australian class invited to send two class representatives and their teacher to Paris, all expenses paid, to participate in a special series of events during World Sustainability week in June 2007.

"˜Tales Around the World 2007 "“ Life Stories of People with Nature' is the 4th yearly international environmental awareness program for children aged 8 to 11 years organised and funded by Veolia Environnement.

Open to every primary school in Australia, the campaign has been developed in partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, and has been designed to raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable development for future generations.

School children from 26 countries around the world are being asked to design collectively a mask and write a short story about the relationship between people and nature.

Entries have to be submitted by 5 April 2007.

Two students and the teacher from the winning class will be invited by Veolia Environnement to participate in the awards ceremony in Paris, France, in June 2007 to join the other international winners. Also, their school will be awarded an interactive whiteboard.

Specific teaching and educational material have been developed for the campaign and will be distributed "“ free of charge "“ to each participating class. Teachers or principals interested in participating should lodge an official registration before February 28.

For more information on the campaign and to download the registration form, go to: www.veolia.com/globe.