Alliance Francaise invites photos to demonstrate conservation

Forty finalists will be chosen from entries sent in to more than 850 Alliance Francaise centres in 137 countries. First prize: a week in Paris, which includes transportation, accommodation and a daily stipend of 30 euros.

Dubai — The Alliance Francaise, France’s premier cultural and language organisation, is inviting UAE residents to submit photographs for a world-wide competition designed to draw attention to the effects of climate change.

Forty finalists will be chosen from entries sent in to more than 850 Alliance Francaise centres in 137 countries. First prize: a week in Paris, which includes transportation, accommodation and a daily stipend of 30 euros.

Entitled “Climate: a state of emergency”, the contest looks for images that illustrate climate change, global warming, people’s perceptions of climate change, and actions or solutions taken to combat it. The event is being held under the patronage of the world renowned photographer and environmentalist, Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

Among the three judges of the local competition in Dubai is award-winning photojournalist Pia Torelli, best known for her work in Afghanistan, where she primarily focused on children and women.

Torelli said she hoped the photo competition would help people in Dubai be more aware of local environmental issues, be it climate change or recycling.

“If everybody starts thinking about it and does something about it, we can change things,” she said. Torelli said she hoped that images — such as the ones that will be on display at the Alliance Francaise — would help bridge the language barriers that exist in Dubai to educate people on the environment.

“In Dubai, they need images to make people understand, because we have so many different languages,” she said. “I’m not sure how many works we have so far (in the photo competition), but I think those pictures should be displayed so that people can see what’s good for the environment and what is not.”

Torelli also noted that the main benefit of a photo competition is the involvement of children and young people, who can, in turn educate parents about how to be environmentally friendly.

“The best way to take a step forward with the environment is to go to the schools and get to the kids,” she said. “The kids will then teach their parents good habits.”

“If the kids don’t do anything, the environment of Dubai and the UAE is not going to get any better,” she added. “It’s the new generation that needs to get on with it and teach the parents.”

The photo competition is one of a series of environmentally-focused events being put on by the Alliance Francaise in Dubai in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in November.

Those wishing to enter the competition have until April 30 to send in submissions. Local winners will be announced in early May.

bernd@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE