2008 Photo Competition Launch

The best shots will feature in a Friends of the Earth International 2009 wall calendar, greeting cards, and other materials.

We are looking for imaginative, striking photos on the theme of “Inspiration, Hope and Possibilities for a Better World” that illustrate environmental and social change in the following categories:
1) Reclaiming Tradition
2) Innovation for the Future
3) People and Transformation

The judges for this year’s competition include:

• Yann Arthus-Bertrand, world renowned aerial photographer of the planet’s ecosystems [1].
• Akintunde Akinleye, first-place winner World Press Photo 2007, from Nigeria [2].
• Peter Menzel, US photojournalist and author of “Hungry Planet: What The World Eats” [3].
• Daniel Beltrá (Spain, based in Seattle), environmental and nature photography specialist and winner of the 2007 World Press Photo prize for his work on soy plantations and Amazon deforestation [4].
• Award-winning Dutch photojournalist Kadir van Lohuizen, author of Diamond Matters [5].
• Bangladeshi photographer G.M.B. Akash, first-place winner of the 2007 Friends of the Earth International photo competition [6]
• Indian photographer Shantanu Das, first-place winner of the 2007 Friends of the Earth International photo competition.

Our global photo competition is free of charge, and both professional and amateur photographers are invited to submit photos. We particularly encourage young people, women and people living in the developing world to take part.
The deadline for entries is 1 April 2008.

For more information and competition rules see: www.foei.org/en/photo
You can see the winners of last year’s competition at: www.foei.org/en/photo/2007

Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 69 diverse national member groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent, and totalling more than 2 million members and supporters around the world.

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] For more information on Yann Arthus-Bertrand, visit www.yannarthusbertrand.org

[2] For more information on Akintunde Akinleye, visit www.akintunde1.com

[3] For more information on Peter Menzel, visit www.menzelphoto.com

[4] For more information on Daniel Beltrá, visit www.danielbeltra.com

[5] For more information on Kadir van Lohuizen, visit www.lohuizen.net

[6] For more information on G.M.B. Akash, visit www.gmb-akash.com