10th anniversary global art contest for children and youth     

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The Stockholm Convention celebrated its 10th anniversary in May 2011. On this occasion, the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention is organising a global art contest for children and youth.

The contest

The theme for the competition is "Stockholm at 10: Chemical Challenges, Sustainable Solutions" and what it means to young people around the world. For example, in their entries, children and youth may explore the many ways persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affect the life of the planet, enter people’s bodies, and change ecosystems, the reasons why the planet's "chemical temperature" is rising, and how people can protect themselves and nature from these harmful substances.

The contest is open to three possible art media categories:

  • Drawing
  • Photography
  • Short videos

There are also three age categories:

Deadline for entering the contest: 16 March 2012

What are POPs?

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are among the most toxic chemicals found on Earth today. POPs accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals (fish, birds, mammals) and humans and build up along the food chain, so those at the top of it are most exposed. They can cause cancer and damage the nervous systems, reproductive systems, immune systems or livers of both humans and animals. POPs travel long distances through air, water and living organisms, so they are everywhere, even far away from where they were originally produced. They last for years or even decades before degrading into less dangerous forms.

Today there are 22 POPs, which are either pesticides, industrial chemicals or unintentional by-products of human activities (such as open burning of waste and biomass –including forest fires- but also waste incineration, various industrial processes like production of chemicals, metals, textile or ceramic, artisanal brick production).

The Stockholm Convention, which was signed in 2001, aims at eliminating or reducing the production and use of these chemicals. It has been ratified by 173 countries and the European Union, which must put in place many actions to comply with the Convention’s obligations (such as banning certain chemicals, resorting to alternatives, cleaning up existing stockpiles and waste sites, etc.).

Prizes

There will be 27 final winners: 9 winners per art media category (3 winners for each age category).

The winners’ entries will be displayed at the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil on 20 - 22 June 2012 and in the Stockholm Convention Regional Centres across the world. An exhibition will also take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Finally, the entries will feature on a dedicated webpage of the Stockholm Convention Secretariat’s website.

 

Rules Guidelines Register

To ask questions, contact: sc10@pops.int

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Born between 2 January 2001 and 1 January 2007 (please provide a photocopy of your passport or national identity document, or any other official document for proof of age).

Born between 2 January 1996 and 1 January 2001 (please provide a photocopy of your passport or national identity document, or any other official document for proof of age).

Born between 2 January 1991 and 1 January 1996 (please provide a photocopy of your passport or national identity document, or any other official document for proof of age).