UNEP CALLS ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS SUPPORT
Press Release
HE/947
UNEP CALLS ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS SUPPORT
19970207 NEW YORK, 6 February (UNEP) -- At the request of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Earth Communications Office (ECO) presented its internationally acclaimed environmental messages yesterday to environmental ministers and senior officials from over 100 countries at the nineteenth UNEP Governing Council session currently taking place in Nairobi. The ECO, the entertainment industry-based environmental organization that uses the power of communications to improve the global environment, has made four public service announcements available for each of the United Nations member countries to air in their home countries.For the first time in ECO's seven-year history, the organization's public service announcement programme has been translated into the six official United Nations languages, thanks to co-sponsorship from UNEP and the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. The annual movie theatre public service announcements, shown on 90 per cent of the theatre screens in the United States and Canada and seen by more than 500 million people worldwide, empower individuals to "do something" to make a difference for the environment. In addition to receiving virtually every advertising award, including the prestigious CLIO and Belding awards, ECO was honoured with an EMMY nomination last year and recently received a New York Festivals International Gold Medal for its public service announcements "Mother" and "Neighbors".
The ECO has already received commitments to air the public service announcements internationally from 25 countries. Commenting on the new relationship with UNEP, ECO Chairman Larry Kopald stated, "ECO's messages are created with the same goal as that of the United Nations ... to protect our planet. Whether it be from warfare, hunger or environmental destruction, we can only solve these problems if everyone in the world participates. ECO's partnership with UNEP represents a powerful opportunity to reach millions, perhaps billions, of individuals and vastly increases our chance to protect the environment." The nineteenth session of UNEP's Governing Council will shape the environmental agenda of the twenty-first Century. Established as the environmental conscience of the United Nations system, one of UNEP's most important functions is the promotion of scientific and public information on the environment for decision-making and action. Commemorating UNEP's twenty- fifth anniversary, ministers and high-level government representatives are gathering during a two-week period that culminates in a high-level segment from 5 to 7 February.
- 2 - Press Release HE/947 7 February 1997
UNEP's Executive Director Elizabeth Dowdeswell, as she introduced the public service announcements to the Council yesterday, noted that "if we are to inspire individuals to take informed action to protect their environment -- to create 'environmental citizens' -- it is critical that we provide information to as wide an audience as possible in the most engaging and compelling form possible. These public service announcements exemplify the shared vision of UNEP and ECO".
The ECO is a non-profit, non-partisan entertainment industry-based organization comprised of leaders in film, television, music, radio, advertising and virtually all aspects of communication. Board members include Ed Begley, Jr., Pierce Brosnan, John Paul DeJoria, Sara Gilbert, Brian Grazer, Woody Harrelson, Tippi Hedren, Debra Hill, Ron Howard, Michael Keaton, Tim Matheson, Peter Max, Donna Mills, David Mirkin, Esai Morales, Olivia Newton-John, Norman Pattiz, Alexandra Paul, Ivan Reitman, John Ritter, Mimi Rogers, Bob Talbot, Dennis Weaver, Hans Zimmer and Daphne Zuniga.
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