The results of the competition were pleasantly surprising.
The received articles proved that climate change is no more an abstract issue for the residents of Kazakhstan. Moreover, some people started thinking about how to reduce their “carbon footprint”. And they not only act on their own but also share their experience in social networks and online.
However, there were still some essays that were lacking knowledge about the topic. The presence of these works convinces us that it is necessary to continue to talk about global warming and its consequences.
But we are grateful to all the authors who sent their works to the contest. Thank you for taking your time and opportunity to write your essays and take part in a creative competition! All authors received branded chocolates, on the cover of which “Smogliki” are sculpting a snowman. SMOGLIKI are funny comic book characters loved by readers of LivingAsia. The caption on the chocolate calls for stopping global warming, and to allow children to continue to enjoy winter games.
The competition was held in Kazakhstan from November 20 to December 20, 2019, as part of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) project “The Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea Basin” (CAMP4ASB), funded by the World Bank.
The competition was also supported by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the Kazakh-German University. The organizer was the Central Asian environmental online magazine LivingAsia.
Not only professional journalists, but all the interested could participate in the competition. Among them were students, civic activists, and bloggers. A total of 42 papers were submitted.
So, it is worth mentioning that the topic related to an environmentally friendly lifestyle is becoming more and more popular!
After studying and evaluating all the applications, the jury selected 6 most interesting works that won first prizes and one author received a Grand Prize.
So, here they are, the winners and their works!
I hope you will enjoy reading the essays created by the entrepreneur and eco-blogger Mikhail Belyakov, “How our family lowers the carbon footprint” and eco-activist Oksana Belyakova, “Saving humanity is the work of humanity itself”.These articles are a collection of valuable advice and inspiring examples of how people can become more environmentally friendly.
No less interesting and informative is the research article about "rapid" development and growth of alternative energy in our country, written by Margarita Bocharova, correspondent of the FactCheck.kz media portal, "The green economy is growing rapidly in Kazakhstan".
In the article of Andas Kazhet from Taldykorgan, correspondent of the regional socio-political publication “Lights of Alatau”, you can find an answer to the question “What is the impact of global warming on Kazakhstan?”
Another important aspect was raised by the correspondent of the Food industry.kz media portal, Zhanbota Tolegen in her article named “The impact of livestock on climate change”
In her article named “To buzz cicadas and apple aroma instead of apple trees exhaust gases", eco-activist Daria Bezyazychnykhpresented her vision on how to reduce carbon emissions in a megalopolis and make the city cleaner, more comfortable and safer.
The winner of the grand prize was the correspondent of the republican newspaper Express-K Yaroslav Razumov with his publication "Bees disappear, and deserts grow"
And, of course, the rewarding! An exciting and enjoyable ceremony. Just a short moment of fame and recognition, but how important it is! It gives strength and inspiration to continue to move on. Knowing that other people appreciate your work is always important.
The award ceremony was held on December 23, 2019 in the cozy hall of the Kazakh-German University (KGU).
It was joyful to see that, despite the New Year's hustle, a lot of people came to the ceremony. These were contestants, representatives of donor organizations and businesses, eco-activists, journalists, students, and teachers.
After presenting honorary diplomas, prizes and chocolates, applause, and congratulations to the nominees, the ceremony participants summed up the main results of the year, concluding that the outgoing year was marked by a surge in civic activity and real results.
The central event of the year for everyone who fought for the unique Kok-Zhailau tract was the closing of the resort construction project by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Tokaev, on October 29. Many years of struggle finally brought positive results. This example gives strength and enthusiasm for those who fight for a clean environment.
Contrary to the widespread position “little depends on me”, life shows that “water does not flow under a lying stone”. In many countries where environmental conditions are favorable, there is also a high level of eco-activity.
“Nowadays environmental friendliness is becoming a trend ... ... Two years ago, it seemed that no one in my circle used the words that have already become popular today, such as“ecological footprint ”or“ carbon footprint ”. Understanding the terms and definitions, I got to conclusions: that each action incurs certain “footprint”, which directly or indirectly affects both ourselves and our environment, and even the whole planet.
Excerpt from an essay by Pakizat Saylaubekova, eco-activist, environmental specialist at the Center for Promoting Sustainable Development, co-founder of the Recycle BIRGE project.
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