Art-felt pleas for a greener world

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

KIWI PLACE-GETTER: Janelle Sanson, 13, of Levin, won joint fifth prize in an international contest.

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A sobering portrait of a globe imprisoned by pollution has topped more than 15,000 entries in an international children's art competition on display in Wellington.

The winning entry, by Gloria IP Tung, from Hong Kong, was announced at Te Papa as part of World Environment Day celebrations.

The International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment is organised annually by the United Nations Environment Programme. This year it attracted more than 15,500 entries.

Gloria, 14, said her painting had a message of hope: it shows arms from many nationalities pulling apart the prison bars of pollution. "I really think we can all do something to help the environment."

She was flown to Wellington with her parents to pick up her prize - a plaque and a cheque for $2600 - with all carbon emissions from their air travel offset by the UN programme.

Janelle Sanson, 13, of Levin, won joint fifth prize with her depiction of an ecosystem fuelled by the world's tears. She could not believe how big the competition was, with international media, foreign dignitaries and Prime Minister Helen Clark all in attendance. "It was just huge."

Te Papa will display 64 of the winning entries from today till August 31.

- © Fairfax NZ News