The Australian Government has put its support behind Vietnam’s “Clean up the World” campaign in 2010.
On September 18 The Australian Embassy organised a “Clean up the Zoo” activity in partnership with Thang Long Secondary school at the Hanoi (Thu Le) Zoo.
Staff and children from the Australian Embassy in Hanoi conducted an exchange with students from the Thang Long Secondary School on the environment. An expert from the Hanoi Zoo talked about endangered animals and the important daily task of keeping the zoo’s grounds clean for the animals and visitors. After the exchange, Australian Embassy staff and the children will collect rubbish at the zoo.
According to the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Allaster Cox, “Practical activities at all levels of the community are fundamental to ensuring a clean environment. Raising public awareness and acting appropriately in maintaining the earth’s biodiversity are imperative as the quality of our food, energy, landscape and essential services depend on looking after the environment. We’re proud that Clean up the World, an Australian initiative, continues to receive such widespread and worthwhile support in Vietnam.”
Sharing the same opinion, Ms Nguyen Thanh Ha, Vice-Rector of the Thang Long school said, “The activity at Thu le Zoo a very practical activity to raise awareness about keeping the environment clean among students and visitors at the zoo.” She said that her school will plan to make this activity a yearly event for our school.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) together with the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, also support the publication of an environmental education book this month. The book focuses on preserving the earth’s biodiversity. It is an informative read about the rapid decline in the number of species and why biodiversity is important more broadly for our continued existence and that of the planet.
