Shoring up: The banks of the Huong (Perfume) River are reinforced with bricks to guard against erosion. — VNA/VNS Photo Bui Tuong

HA NOI — In what is an unprecedented honour, Viet Nam’s ancient city of Hue has been chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to celebrate World Environment Day on Tuesday with other three cities in the world.

"It is a great honour, and it proves that the environment protection movement in Viet Nam has made a remarkable contribution to global environment protection," said director of Hue City’s Science, Technology and Environment Department (DoSTE) Dr. Do Nam.

A number of events are scheduled for Thua Thien-Hue city on this occasion along with Torino in Italy, Havana in Cuba and Nairobi in Kenya.

Under the Connect with the World Wide Web of Life initiative, numerous programmes have been being organised in Hue City and throughout the country, including meetings; student environmental competitions; signing ceremonies for new environmental protection projects; television specials; cultural exchanges.

Other activities include seminars on economical use of energy and on environmental pollution; treatment of hospital waste and rubbish; a volunteer youth forum; a film festival; a painting and photograph exhibit; bicycle parade and kite-flying performance; and Green Sundays to mobilise youth, students and people to make the cities cleaner places.

Additionally, a meeting to celebrate Word Environment Day is to be organised on the banks of the Huong River. In attendance will be a number of leaders, authorities from various international organisations and embassies in Viet Nam and local people.

It is not mere good fortune that Hue has won this recognition – far from it. The people and various organisations there have been seized of environmental issues and have consistently worked towards preserving their ecology.

The DoSTE has played an important role in the environment protection movement in Hue city, said Do Nam.

Some important initial results of the city’s concerns have already been recorded by concerned ministries such as environment education; about 38 per cent of rural people had access to clean water last year; hundreds of Sao La were spotted in the Thua Thien-Hue; and Bac Hai Van and Phong Dien natural reserve projects were set up.

Further, the marine sector has made great strides in the sustainable use of natural resources; the industries sector not only manages natural resources but is also seized of environmental issues and the tourism sector is focused on an ecologically-viable development.

Remarkably, the environmental issue is always in the public domain in Hue. TV, newspapers, the radio have all been actively involved in the environmental movement. Articles and news on environmental issues in the mass media have increased remarkably.

Environmental concern is sought to be enhanced among the communities by running special campaigns relating to environment issues like Mangrove Land Day, World Cleaning Day, Safe Water and Environmental Hygiene Week or World Environment Day.

Non-governmental organisation – (NGO) and international-invested or – assisted projects in science, technology and environment have also contributed to creating favourable conditions for environmental protection.

A pilot model of Green Productivity for a traditional crafts village Van Cu, a modern waste filling at Huong Thuy District’s Thuy Phuong Commune and a hospital – wastes kiln at Hue Central Hospital are some such projects.

Even social organisation are involved – the Hue Composers’ Association exhorts its members to compose songs on environment protections.

The city’s Photographers Association along with Bach Ma National Park held an exhibition called Bach Ma Ecological Impression. — VNS

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