Guests! Comrades, Friends

Owing to the enthusiastic support of friends in various fields, the National Youth Photography Competition for the Promotion of Environmental Protection co-organized by the China Environmental Journalist Association and the H. S. Chau Foundation was a huge success. On behalf of the China Environmental Journalist Association, I would like to extend a warm welcome and sincere thanks to Director Wang of the State Environmental Protection Association who spares time from his busy schedule to attend this ceremony, Ms. Chang who travels from afar to be with us today, Dr. LiaoLiu, Mr. Chen from the Ministry of Education, the panel of judges who contributed much to the evaluation process, and friends from the press.
To the little guests, a warm welcome and congratulations!
The competition was met by an eager response from youths across the country. Within a short period, the office of the competition committee received 810 entries from youths in 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Particularly heartwarming is the profusion of entries from remote regions in western China, entries that are rich in theme and superior in quality. This testifies to the far-reaching penetration of China's policies to protect the environment and to development the west among youths across the country. Remarkable!
To ensure an open and fair competition, the office of the competition committee treated each entry seriously in the process of categorization, number assignment and registration. Questionable submissions were verified. We should particularly thank the panel of judges, veterans and young professionals in photojournalism who sacrificed their holidays for the competition. Each piece of work was treated responsibly and meticulously. In accordance with the regulations of the competition, the panel of judges deliberated each entry in both the lower and upper division three times before arriving at 8 winners in each division and 60 entries short listed in the finals.
This competition is a broad examination of the environmental photographic works of our youths. While the entries do not carry the maturity and sophistication evident in professional works, the judges feel that the entries reflect an abundance of creativity, a truthfulness in the different perspectives of earth and life captured by the youths, and a love of the environment. Some entries communicate the youths' concern for the current environmental state; others sing praises of environmental protectionists. All convey a longing for a peaceful co-existence between man and nature. Some entries came with letters expressing their hope for a beautiful environment and their dedication to environmental protection.
A cooperation between the China Environmental Journalist Association and the H. S. Chau Foundation, this competition has achieved its purpose successfully. The H. S. Chau Foundation has always been an ardent supporter of environmental protection. It has not only contributed meaningful prizes to our little winners, but also offered its support and assistance to the competition in many ways. For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude!
We also extend our gratitude to the officials of the State Environmental Protection Administration and the Ministry of Education, as well as to our friends from the press for their interest in and support of this activity.
Guests, comrades, friends! Environmental protection work in the new century carries great importance and long-term implications, so let us join hands with the millions of youths and build a better tomorrow for our country's environment!
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Dear Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends:

Good morning!
I am delighted that we have the opportunity to congregate here today to give out awards to winners of the National Youth Photography Competition for the Promotion of Environmental Protection.
First of all, a word of congratulations to the students.
In May, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the State Environmental Protection Administration and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television collaboratively initiated an "environmental alert education program". The competition falls fittingly into this program. The theme of the competition is "Earth and Life", with many of the entries communicating the youths' concern for the dismal state of the environment.
Secondly, we have to thank the H. S. Chau Foundation for lending us its strong support. The increasing number of companies showing interest in China's environment suggests the enormous development potential of environmental protection related work. We hope to build a broad cooperative network with these companies.
The staff at the China Environmental Journalist Association also contributed to the success of the competition. Without them, the competition would not have been possible.
Lastly, another word of congratulations to the winners. China's hope lies in our youths, just as the future of China's environment lies in our youths. We hope that you will become active agents of sustainable and equitable development. Strengthen in yourselves and those around you the awareness of environmental issues. We hope that you winners will be able to take actions to motivate even more youths to join the ranks of environmental work.
I thank once again the H. S. Chau Foundation!
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Dear Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends

Hello everyone!
I am honored to be invited to the award ceremony of the National Youth Photography Competition for the Promotion of Environmental Protection. Witnessing our youths' concern for the environment makes me even happier. This competition has enabled me to see the fruition of our efforts in promoting environmental education among youths over the years. Learning is no longer confined to textbooks; the students have learned their lesson from the environment around them and hope to change the world with their actions.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I express my gratitude to the H. S. Chau Foundation and the China Environmental Journalist Association for organizing such a meaningful activity. I believe that this activity has aroused our youths' environmental awareness and has taught them to cherish their environment. Through this activity, there will be many more youths helping us spread the message of environmental protection.
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Prize-Winning Student

Teachers, Students:

Hello everyone!
First of all, I would like to thank the China Environmental Journalist Association and the H. S. Chau Foundation for granting us this invaluable opportunity to meet more friends here.
As with every one of the winners, I am overwhelmed by joyous emotions at the moment. But amidst our happiness, we need to pay attention to the increasingly acute problems confronted by our environment: desertization, deforestation, green house effect, ozone depletion, and others, which detract from the beauty of our earth. Aren't these problems created by the very hands of mankind? If we do not take measures to curb the problems, then the only thing awaiting us will be death.
We have captured on film to show our people the very reality that we have witnessed with our own eyes, a reality that we hope will arouse in everyone an interest in environmental protection. World Environment Day is commemorated each year on June 5; however, allocating just one day is far from enough. We should treat environmental protection as part of our daily routine.
As youths are the hope of the future, environmental education should begin from a young age. On behalf of the prize-winning students, I reach out to all our youths: I hope every one of us can become an environmental protector. Start with small tasks. Regardless of when, where or how, we all should have one common desire: may the skies be bluer, the rivers clearer, the birds happier. Let us all join our hands to shape a beautiful tomorrow!
Lastly, I represent my fellow students in expressing our sincerest thanks to the State Environmental Protection Administration, the Ministry of Education, the H. S. Chau Foundation, the China Environmental Journalist Association and the judges. Thank you.
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