HO CHI MINH CITY (HCMC), 5 MAY 2016, following I Can’t photo project, a short film I Don’t Care – a collaborated work of CHANGE/350.org Vietnam and Global Greengrants Fund – was launched portraying the devastating consequences when people being indifferent to environmental problems, with one of main causes being coal power plants.

The short film demonstrates the attitude of the public, who is turning their back on environmental issues, featuring eight celebrated artists: Thanh Bùi, Diễm My, Tiên Tiên, Đỗ Hải Anh, Trọng Hiếu, Hoàng Quyên, Alexander Tú and Bích Ngọc. It shows how people with different backgrounds, distinguished characteristics and distinct occupations can be strangely alike when it comes to being indifferent to the environment to the point where it may be too late. Participating in this short film, eight artists hope to raise awareness about pollution.

Not only does the campaign receive support from the artists, but also citizens of Hanoi, HCMC and Binh Thuan to spread a powerful warning message about the consequences of coal plants: climate change, natural disasters, air pollution and the deterioration of living quality. For instance, in the future, people may have to live with a mask attached to them on a daily basis.

I Don’t Care is a phrase that people need to erase today. Instead, each individual needs to speak up and take action for his/her life. “It’s time I need to care” artist Thanh Bui shared his thoughts on participating in this short film. “Today’s silence lends a hand to environmental destruction in the future.”

The short film I Don’t Care is one of many activities of I Can’t campaign organised by CHANGE and partners. The film is to be screened on various public media channels, at climate change events at universities and in public, as well as on televised channels and online news outlets. Previously, I Can’t campaign launched three different photo albums celebrity edition, family edition and daily life edition (park, market, and coal-fired plant Vinh Tan). With the main message is: “Don’t let pollution destroy your life”, this photo project shows direct impacts of pollution on the life of people.

Besides the short film I Don’t Care and the photo project I Can’t, the campaign also includes other activities to engage the community, such as “Gas Mask Challenge”, “Create ‘I Can’t…’ Slogan” competition as well as continuous communications activities on different social network platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the campaign to attract the participation of the youths who will help spread the message even further among the public.

Visit website www.changevn.org, www.350.org.vn or Facebook page www.facebook.com/vietnam350  for more information about this campaign.

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MORE INFORMATION:

1. Short film I Don’t Care (Uncut) – 3 minutes:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-YNNj-ue5lhSjVRaGFOME9MOXM/view

   Short film I Don’t Care (Cut) – 1 minute:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-YNNj-ue5lhelNaOHQyVFoySjQ/view

2. Photo album I Can’t – celebrity edition:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141445602@N07/albums/72157666531206256

Photo album I Can’t – family edition:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141445602@N07/albums/72157666749520655

Photo album I Can’t – daily life edition (park):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141445602@N07/albums/72157666634637431

Photo album I Can’t – daily life edition (market):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141445602@N07/albums/72157666634415911

Photo album I Can’t – daily life edition (coal-fired plant Vinh Tan):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141445602@N07/albums/72157666750237525

Contact:

Dung Nguyen (Ms)

Climate Change Program Coordinator

CHANGE

Mobile: (+84) 918 243 883

Email: dungnguyen@changevn.org

Editor’s notes:

About “I Can’t” campaign

“I Can’t” is a communications campaign to raise public awareness and engage the youth from major cities and towns affected by air pollution from coal. This is a chance for Vietnamese people to join the fight against climate change and gain knowledge about energy in Vietnam, in particular the development of coal-fired power plants, which is one of the leading causes of pollution and climate change.

About CHANGE

Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE) registered under Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) is a Vietnamese non-profit organization. CHANGE is the official national partner of 350.org in Vietnam. The organization aims to develop and mobilize resources in order to raise awareness, change behavior and build capacity of the community to tackle environmental and sustainability issues and climate change.

About 350.org

350.org is a global climate change movement started in 2007 with the participation of millions of people from 188 nations. The number 350 in the name of the movement means 350 parts per million (ppm), which is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere according to the latest scientific finding. The ultimate purpose of the actions and activities by 350.org worldwide is reducing this level from the current 402ppm to 350ppm to prevent serious consequences of climate change. Up until now, 350.org Vietnam movement has attracted the participation of over 10,000 volunteers nationwide.

Official websites: www.350.org.vn and www.facebook.com/vietnam350

About negative impacts of coal and the air pollution situation caused by coal-fired power plants in Vietnam

Emissions from coal plants not only cause climate change, but also the leading cause of air pollution resulting in over 800,000 premature deaths annually around the world [1].

While most countries are switching to renewable energy as an effort to slow down climate change, Vietnam remains the world’s third largest builder of coal-fired power plants (behind China and India) [1]. As the largest coal pipeline in South East Asia, Vietnam is planning to build 55GW of coal plants according to the latest official figures released in the week of 29 March 2016, despite an announcement in January 2016 that the government intends to review development plans of all new coal plants and halt any new coal power development [2].

Emissions from coal-fired power plants not only lead to climate change, but also are one of the leading causes of air pollution. Particularly, particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in emissions from coal plants can spread for hundreds of kilometers, causing serious health issues as well as affecting soil and crops. Particulates can cause chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer, even strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, coal burning emits wastes such as toxic metals, or ozone and fine particulates that create deadly smog when come into contact with sunlight. These results are presented at a workshop organized by the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) on 29 September 2015.

The most concerning matter is that Vietnam currently has 12 coal-fired power plants around the country, with about 50 more power plants to be constructed around the areas of Red River and the Mekong Delta. This will have significant impacts on the environment as well as agriculture production.

References:

[1] CoalSwarm, Greenpeace, and Sierra Club. 2016. Boom and Bust 2016: Tracking the Global Coal Plant Pipeline.

[2] Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s announcement at a government meeting about the amendment of power and coal industry development plans.