The winners of the 15th International Painting Competition on the Environment were announced on World Environment Day in June, at a ceremony in Nairobi. The theme for the 2006 competition was Deserts and Desertification, with the motto ‘Don’t Desert the Drylands!’

Children between 6–14 years old were invited to express their ideas through art. More than 8,000 entries were sent in by children from over 100 countries. Impressive images of deforestation and environmental destruction, of desert and biodiversity, of water and life dominated the competition.

The overall global winner of the award was 9 year old Lau Tsun Ming, from China. Speaking about his painting, he explained: “My picture shows contrasting scenes on earth. One is desertified and the other can keep its natural beauty. If people continue to ruin the environment, our surroundings will become dull.” Lau Tsun Ming’s thought-provoking words were echoed by UNEP’s Director of Communications and Public Information, Eric Falt. Speaking at the awards, he congratulated the entrants, saying: “The response we receive every year to this painting competition shows that children really care. It shows that their teachers, their parents and their communities care also. If we are going to try and reverse the environmental decline we know is happening to our land, seas, rivers and air, we need to care-and to act.”

Contact: UNEP — United Nations Environment Programme
Website: www​.unep​.org

Image: overall global winning entry
by Lau Tsun Ming, age 9, from China
Photos: © unep