Environmental issues 1

Albay boy’s drawing bests 1,676 worldwide


By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: August 31, 2008


GUINOBATAN, Albay, Philippines—Bryle Napay’s mind is etched with memories of rainy days when he would set aside his black leather shoes and wade to school on slippers as floods would rise fast in their village in Camalig town.
These memories were what inspired Bryle, now 16, to join the Shoot Nations 2008 contest, where his drawing bested 1,676 entries from all over the world.

Shoot Nations, organized by Plan International and London-based Shoot Experience, is an annual photography and drawing contest, which encourages young people to express their thoughts on global issues.

It aims to use these art forms as tools for cross-cultural, language-free communication. Entries are sent online.

This year’s theme revolved around climate change, a global menace that has prompted advocates to launch worldwide campaigns on awareness and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

But Bryle’s drawing, which he finished in just a day using paint and oil pastel, conveyed a simple message out of “a hand holding a seedling.”

It was captioned, “Reminds me that we can still do small things before it’s too late.”

A newbie in outside-the-school drawing contests, Bryle, senior high school student at the Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School here, said he never thought his drawing would win as “Best Overall Drawing” in the all-age category.

Bryle’s winning entry will be printed for exhibition at the World Youth Congress in Quebec, Canada, for the United Nations International Youth Day 2008.

It is also posted on www.shootnations.org and was exhibited at the OXO Tower Gallery in London last Aug. 12 to 17.

Bryle said his awareness of the ill-effects of environmental degradation as experienced by his community vividly showed him the impacts of a changing climate.

“Since [my] kindergarten [days], our village had always been flooded,” he recalled.

This reality, Bryle said, made him easily understand that deeds as small as littering trash have greater effects on a larger population.

He said that as thousands of young people view his drawings, he wants to send a message of unity.

“If every one would contribute in small ways and with all our efforts, we can save mother earth,” he said.

He lamented that most of the so-called “wired generation,” or those born in the advent of mobile technology, have become passive of environmental issues.

“Even if there are environmental laws and education in schools, some young people would not really care. But this can change if the youth are properly educated,” he said.

Dream

Given the chance, he said, he would love to create cartoons, whose content advocates environmental protection.

“I want to make animé about climate change so the youth will be aware of this issue,” he said.

After winning the contest, Bryle said he was motivated to learn more about environmental issues.

Because of his Shoot Nations stint, Bryle received an invitation to become a young ambassador for climate change in the YouthXchange, a international campaign initiative on sustainable consumption and production.





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