Airbus Unveils Children’s Photo Exhibition at Bristol Zoo

Submitted by vanessa on Tue, 2010-09-07 09:51

                                                                                               

7 September 2010

A dazzling photography exhibition of the natural world taken by children and young people worldwide has launched at Bristol Zoo in support of the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity.  The exhibition will be displayed within the zoo until 16th September.

The Airbus ‘See the Bigger Picture’ exhibition features an extraordinary collection of entries from an international youth photography competition, run by the aircraft manufacturer in partnership with the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and National Geographic.  The winning photos were chosen from more than 2,500 entries from children in 99 countries. All entrants showed a common love of photography, a passion for their natural environment and concern for their future.

In support of the CBD’s Green Wave initiative, the exhibition encourages people to stop and consider the importance of biodiversity – which is the rich variety of life on earth – and the consequences of its loss.  With nearly 30% of known species under threat, visitors to the zoo will have the opportunity to view nature through the eyes of young people and be reminded of the need to protect it.  

Katherine Bennett, Director of Communication and Government Affairs at Airbus in the UK, said, “We are delighted to bring this fantastic exhibition to Airbus’ Bristol home as part of its global tour. At Airbus, we are fully committed to minimising man-made emissions by improving the eco-efficiency of our aircraft. The International Year of Biodiversity allows us to use our global outreach to help raise awareness of the vital role biodiversity plays. This is why Airbus created the ‘See the Bigger Picture’ competition and exhibition.

“Biodiversity is also vital for the future of aviation and economic development. The natural world has been, and continues to be, a source of inspiration to engineers in creating eco-efficient aircraft.  Biologically inspired engineering, or biomimicry, is the future, which is why we all need to work harder to preserve life on earth.”

Bristol Zoo is the seventh venue to host the Airbus youth photography exhibition. During its 2010 world tour, the exhibition has been displayed outside the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France; in Whistler, Canada to coincide with the Winter Olympics; in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany; at London Zoo on the International Day of Biodiversity, and most recently in Madrid, Spain. It is scheduled to appear in Alabama in the US, supporting the regions efforts to address the Gulf Coast oil spill, and Nagoya, Japan, during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD.

To view a selection of the exhibition photographs, visit www.seethebiggerpicture.org.

Notes to editors

About See the Bigger Picture

  • The images on display in the exhibition are the winners and honourable mentions from the See the Bigger Picture photography competition, launched in 2009 by Airbus in partnership the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with National Geographic.
  • Young people from 99 countries around the world submitted their interpretations of biodiversity for the chance to win a trip to the National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • The competition was launched as part of Airbus’ commitment to The Green Wave, an ambitious youth engagement programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • As a leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus is committed to reducing aviation’s 2% contribution to manmade CO2 emissions by using research and technology to develop increasingly eco-efficient aircraft.  Airbus is also committed to supporting those tackling the other 98%, which is why it is supporting the CBD.
  • Images from the competition also feature in UNESCO’s touring biodiversity exhibition
  • Visit: www.seethebiggerpicture.org.

 

About the Green Wave

  • The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a United Nations intergovernmental treaty, whose objectives are the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the CBD is provided by the United Nations Environment Programme.
  • The United Nations designated 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. The Green Wave is an international initiative to educate and raise awareness on biodiversity. Each year on 22 May (the International Day of Biodiversity), as part of The Green Wave initiative, children and youth are invited to plant a tree at 10:00 local time to celebrate biodiversity. This creates a ‘green’ wave of tree planting as the activity passes through each time zone across the world.
  • Photos and stories from the moment are uploaded by participants to The Green Wave website to create a virtual wave on the internet.
  • 2011 is the UN designated International Year of Forests.
  • Visit http://greenwave.cbd.int

 

Bristol Zoo Gardens

  • Bristol Zoo Gardens is an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
  • Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
  • To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
  • Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
  • The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
  • Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
  • Bristol Zoo Gardens supports – through finance and skill sharing - over 12 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
  • Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.

 

            Press contact:

Katie Mitchell-Baxter– 020 7861 3143 / Katiemitchell-baxter@goodrelations.co.uk

Kristi Tucker – 0117 936 2746 /Kristi.tucker@airbus.com