JIMINY CRICKET'S ENVIRONMENTALITY™ CHALLENGE - 200 YOUNG HEROES RECOGNIZED AT AWARDS CEREMONY

Hong Kong (May 11 2004) -- Over 200 primary students today were formally acknowledged as "Environmentality^TM Heroes" in recognition of their hard work and extraordinary achievements at the Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality^TM Challenge 2003/04.

"Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality^TM Challenge" is a partnership program in conjunction with the Environmental Campaign Committee, Environmental Protection Department and Hong Kong Disneyland. The program, first of its kind in Hong Kong, provides an opportunity for teachers to lead their students from a mere awareness of environmental concerns to an understanding of local issues and finally taking responsible action.

The program consists of two parts, the "Environmentality^TM Pledge" and the "Class Project Competition". Students who took part in the former were required to discuss environmental challenges in their class and make a commitment to protect the environment. Those taking part in the Competition were asked to identify a "real-world" environmental challenge and implement an action plan to improve the environment.

Since the program's inception in October 2003, a total of 82 schools have taken part, involving over 40,000 primary students. The number of projects submitted amounted to 240.

The young heroes preformed extremely well during the program, presenting their environmental projects in a lively and creative way. Amongst the various projects, several students planted flowers by themselves for fund-raising purposes, some measured the weight of disposed lunch boxes in schools, while others developed interesting ways of measuring the amount of dust in their environment. Some classes even offered new solutions to the government to solve environmental issues for the betterment of Hong Kong.

Grand Prize winner of the Upper Class category, American International School, came up with a project named "Reduce Lunch Litter". American International students collected all disposed lunch boxes in schools and had them weighed. They also encouraged their schoolmates to bring their own lunch boxes and use recyclable utensils. This program has received an overwhelming response not only from the school principal but also all parents.

Grand Prize winner of the Lower Class category, S.K.H. Fung Kei Millennium Primary School, submitted a project named "Flowery World". Under the guidance of their teacher, the students launched a "one person one flower" project and learned how to plant Impatiens Walleriana at home. Students captured the germination process of their flowers in details. Once the flowers bloomed they were brought back to the school for a special fund-raising bazaar in support of the Community Chest.

Attending today's Award Ceremony were Mr. Robert Law, JP, Director of Environmental Protection; Mr. Joseph Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman of Environmental Campaign Committee, and Mr. Don Robinson, Group Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland.

"At the Walt Disney Company, we believe that respect for the environment is an important part of how we do business," Hong Kong Disneyland's Group Managing Director Don Robinson said. "We are delighted that we can now extend this legacy of work to the people of Hong Kong through Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality^TM Challenge. With the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in late 2005 /early 06, we will be increasing our environmental efforts throughout the city and look forward to partnering with the community for a better Hong Kong."

"The program provides a good opportunity for our primary school students to think green and act green, it also encourages students to take a more active role in protecting our environment by reaching out to educate the community," Director of Environmental Protection Robert Law said.

"I'm glad to see that the projects of the young heroes have been so inspiring to their families and teachers. This also shows their enthusiasm to environmental protection," Chairman of Environmental Campaign Committee Joseph Lee said.

Each of the 10 outstanding classes was awarded a cash prize of HK$4,000, a class plaque and other gifts. Each Grand Prize winner from the Lower and Upper Class categories will also have the opportunity to view the Hong Kong Disneyland site through in a specially arranged boat trip, in addition to participating in a special "Heroes Award Ceremony" to be held at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2006.

The name of the program, "Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality^TM Challenge", features one of the most beloved Disney characters, Jiminy Cricket. Jiminy is a key character in the classic Disney story, Pinocchio, and is the "official" conscience of Pinocchio. Jiminy would always sit on Pinocchio's shoulders to mirror his conscience and steer him back to the right path. In the program, Jiminy was there to remind the students that they should take time to think about of the environment in whatever they do, and to keep in mind his simple motto: "Every little bit makes a big difference!"

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