Foreigners Join Hands to Protect Environment in Vietnam Hanoi

Vietnamese and foreign activists of the Hanoi Environment Group (HEG) are joining in a series of activities in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi to respond to Earth Day 2011 [April 22], the Voice of Vietnam Radio said late April 19. On April 23, HEG members will clean up West Lake and plant trees in the city in order to make it become greener and cleaner. The first annual HEG film week were also launched on April 19 with the support from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, which will screen films on climate change and the environmental backlash of the human race stretching the Earth’s natural resources to the limit. The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox, appreciated the activities, saying that “these activities reflect the interest and passion of Hanoi’s expatriate population for preserving the city’s natural environment via practical, community-based action. The event is a good chance to reinforce the importance of environmental protection for younger Hanoi generations, Ambassador Cox added. HEG is a social network interested in resolving increasingly environmental issues by cooperation among individuals, the private sector, foreign and domestic agencies as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). (vovnews.vn April 19)