Industry News for 2010

ADB climate change video competition winners announced

Switches not superheroes can help save the planet from a hot, polluted and grim future, says an aspiring Filipino film maker who has scooped the grand prize in the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) climate change video competition.

Alvin Tiamzon's short video 'How to Save the World' beat out 69 other entries for the overall prize in, ‘MyView: The Asia-Pacific Climate Change Video Contest,’ which was created by ADB to highlight the serious threat that global warming poses. The entries, from countries across the region, ranged from live drama to mock documentary, and even animation.

"The idea for this film is quite simple: We don't need superheroes to save the world from impending doom," said the 23-year old, whose video humorously highlights the environmental difference that ordinary people can make by simply flicking off a switch.

"We received many high-quality entries, but Mr Tiamzon's video stood out for its wit, energy and clear message," said judge Ann Quon, Principal Director, ADB's Department of External Relations.

In the under-21 category Anup Poudel of Nepal took the prize with his film, 'My Green Home' which depicts the dangers of environmental damage, through the eyes of a six-year old boy.

In the over-21 category 'If Animals Could Speak' by Alex Choo Chin Fung of Malaysia, and 'What Are We Doing about Climate Change' by Yusmal Ghazali, also of Malaysia, were joint winners.

The winning videos and full list of prize winners are available on the ADB wesbite at: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2009/Climate-Change-Video-Contest/default.asp

CASBAA members hold volunteer day in Hong Kong

The first 'CASBAA Cares' Volunteer Day was held in Hong Kong last weekend in support of the Crossroads Foundation, which provides relief assistance to welfare organizations operating within Hong Kong and internationally.

Over 20 volunteers from CASBAA member companies participated in the event, sorting and packing goods for shipment. They included staff from AsiaSat, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), ITV Global Entertainment, NDS, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony Pictures Television, Telstra, Time Warner and Viaccess.

Established in 1995, Crossroads Foundation is a Hong Kong based, non-profit organisation serving global needs. It seeks to serve and support welfare organisations that are working to meet needs at the local level.

Its Global Distribution division takes Hong Kong's quality superseded goods and redistributes them to people in need, locally and internationally.

Crossroads provides goods to registered organisations caring for orphans, the elderly, the handicapped, poor families, refugees and disaster victims.

Goods such as furniture, bedding, household goods, clothing, electrical items, stationery, books, educational toys and medical provisions are all donated, and freight services are either donated or sponsored.

Radio Republik Indonesia to expand 'Green Radio' initiative

More programs on environmental issues would be broadcast by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) to raise awareness of these issues and help mitigate the impact of global warming, RRI President Director, Parni Hadi, said today.

Voice of Indonesia News reports that Mr Parni was speaking today at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Bogor, Indonesia, between RRI and Dompet Duafa Republika, to expand its 'Green Radio' initiative to involve the planting of productive trees.

Under the agreement, RRI and Dompet Duafa Republika will produce programs on tree planting and Sedekah Pohon (alms of tree).

About 1,500 fruiting and flowering trees would be planted in the area. According to Mr Parni, the trees, including rambutan, guava and durian, would produce fruit and flowers that can be sold.

“So this not only helps fix the environment, the produce from trees could also increase the local people’s economy,” Mr Parni said.

ADB and Haymarket announce joint publishing agreement

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Haymarket Media Group have announced an agreement to jointly publish Development Asia, a quarterly magazine dedicated to social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.

"Development Asia is a ground-breaking publication in the way that it handles development stories," said Jonathan Hirst, who oversees Haymarket's Asian finance titles. "This partnership will help make the magazine even better at informing and reaching critical decision makers across Asia and the world."

Since its inception in 2008, Development Asia has taken a fresh approach to covering regional development issues. "Most of our readers understand development issues and do not need a primer," said Ann Quon, Development Asia publisher, and Principal Director of ADB's Department of External Relations.

"We bring them stories on innovative trends in development, issues that trigger debate among development professionals, and little known or overlooked aspects of development work."

ADB will continue to handle editorial matters on Development Asia while Haymarket will assist with production and distribution as well as handle all commercialization of the publication from their offices in Hong Kong. Circulation is expected to grow significantly under the new partnership.

The magazine currently has a circulation of more than 15,000 readers, including ADB staff, development professionals, government officials and corporate leaders. The first co-published issue, April-June 2010, will be distributed to more than 3000 delegates attending ADB's Annual Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May 2010.

Sony Pictures helps raise awareness of hunger in Philippines

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Sony Pictures and JackTV have teamed up to promote awareness about hunger in the Philippines and to raise funds for nutritious meals to be provided to school children in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

The project is being undertaken in conjunction with the launch of Sony Pictures' latest 3D animated movie, 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs', which was released in cinemas in the Philippines two days ago.

The collaboration with Sony Pictures is part of a global promotional partnership in support of WFP's 'Fill the Cup' campaign which aims to raise funds for school meals and highlight the fact that 66 million primary school children in developing countries regularly turn up hungry for class.

In partnership with Sony Pictures, JackTV is also helping WFP promote "Fill the Cup" specifically for schoolchildren in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

"Through this worthy initiative, we will be able to help ensure these children receive incentives to stay in school and give them an opportunity for a better future," Stephen Anderson, WFP Country Director and Representative, said.

Since 2006, WFP in the Philippines has been supporting conflict-affected populations in Mindanao, and the government of the Philippines' natural disaster responses on a case-by-case basis. WFP is also currently providing emergency relief and early recovery assistance for people in Luzon affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Peping.