THE pressing need for protecting the environment has been given a vocal musical boost from a host of stars from the music and television industries.
They gathered to support the closing ceremony of the Environmental Protection Festival, held recently at the Southorn Playground in Wanchai.
Amidst a carnival-like atmosphere, celebrities such as Jacky Cheung, Anthony Lun, the Grasshopper and the Softhard Kids entertained a youthful audience to raise awareness of environmental issues.
The clear message was that environmental protection was everybody's business. Dr Stuart Reed, Director of the Environmental Protection Department, said: ''Every individual in the community has it literally within his own hands to make a difference each and every day.'' ''If we simply reach out and turn off a light switch at home or adjust the thermostat on the air-conditioning, the immediate result is a drop in electricity demand.'' He explained this would reduce energy consumption at all levels of the global energy cycle, ultimately bringing about a reduction in global warming and acid rain.
In addition to saving energy, the festival had tried to encourage people to re-cycle and to re-use. The singers joined Dr Reed in trimming a Christmas tree with decorations made from used bottles, plastic bags and lolly sticks. At the adjoining stalls, second-hand goods donated by the public were sold alongside educational displays and games.
