The Closing and Award Ceremony of the 51st UPU International Letter Writing Competition

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of Vietnam Post Nguyen Hai Thanh
awarded to the winner Nguyen Binh Nguyen, class 9A1, Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School, Ba Dinh District, City. Hanoi

This year, the UPU is running its 51st International Letter-Writing Competition with the theme: “Write a letter to an influential person to explain why and how they need to act on the climate change.”. In Vietnam, this is the 34th competition co- organized by the following organs: Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Writers Association, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the Central Team Council, Vietnam Post, Young Pioneers and Children's Newspaper.

The competition was launched and promoted nationwide from November 2021 to March 2022. The Organizing Board has received nearly one million letters from pupils from 62 cities and provinces.

Addressing at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan said: “In the past time, the competition has always received the attention, support and active participation of schools, organizations and pupils across the country. Although the covid-19 pandemic has caused certain effects to the competition, the interest and love of pupils, schools and localities for the competition has remained unchanged. The anticipation of the new topic, time of launching and results expressed the excitement of the pupils."

The theme of this year's competition is on climate change, which is a global hot issue and directly related to social life, to each individual, so it has received the enthusiastic participation of pupils.

According to the Deputy Minister, the theme of this year's competition is topical meaning when it comes to the content of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change - COP26 in the UK at the end of 2021. The selection of the topic this year is to create opportunities for young people to voice their thoughts and desires in the face of the global issue of the climate crisis, and their expectations to national leaders in solving the climate crisis.

The theme asked participants to write a letter to an influential person, so the recipients they chose were quite diverse and unexpected. These are person with global roles, positions and responsibilities such as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guitares, COP 26 Summit President Alok Sharm, or Leader of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Heosung Lee, Chairman of the Wildlife Protection Association, etc. These are Vietnamese leaders of the State and Government, Ministers of many sectors in whom they entrust their trust.

They choose to send letters to famous figures who have strong actions related to environmental issues in different fields. In the field of culture and entertainment are those who have contributed many activities in the field of environmental protection in the country such as singer Ha Anh Tuan, artist Dang Thai Son, Miss H'Hen Nie... and in the world such as Ronaldo, Miss Earth, writer Andersen, writer Rowling, actress Natalie Portman, billionaires like Elon Musk, Pham Nhat Vuong, CEO of Apple, Editor-in-chief of Vogue Fashion magazine, scientists Nguyen Lan Dung, photographers or directors of documentaries on the topic of climate and environment..., mythical characters such as Son Tinh, god Poseidon…, intellectuals like Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh… Besides, participants also chose "influential characters" very familiar to them such as the father who is a traffic policeman or the company director, the robot cat Doraemon... to tell about close stories in their lives, family, village. The “influential people” are purposefully chosen by the participants to present the reasons as required by the competition theme and also to send messages with personal persuasion to the recipient.

All participants emphasized that the story of climate change is not a problem that one country or one individual can solve, but it is the common responsibility of all of us, as we live and breathe together in the common Earth's atmosphere. They suggested that leaders and politicians should issue policies and show stronger actions in implementing the commitments from COP26 Glasgow to save our planet. They want writers, poets and directors to have inspirational works about love of nature; sports and fashion stars… promote a green lifestyle, reduce food consumption, live frugally and minimally; scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers... have green production models, recycled products, replace disposable plastic cups, limit the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, etc.

They suggested that many periods of creative learning and on-site visits should be organized to change the awareness and actions of the young generation on environmental protection. Lots of specific proposals are such as severely punishing those who cut down trees to destroy forests, planting and taking care of 3 more trees if cutting down 1 tree so that " trees do not disappear and bad people get better", establishing Seagull Club to clean up the coast…

After 5 rounds, 100 letters were selected to the final one with the results of 1 First Prize, 3 Second Prizes, 5 Third Prizes, 30 Consolation Prizes, 61 Promising Writers Prize; 2 prizes for candidates who are disabled. The participants who won the first and second prizes were awarded the Creative Youth Badge by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Nguyen Binh Nguyen, class 9A1, Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School, Ba Dinh District, City. Hanoi has won the National First Prize of the 51st UPU International Letter Writing Competition (2022) in Vietnam. The owner of the first prize chose the idea of ​​transforming into the wind to send a letter to Pianist Dang Thai Son. The letter is a beautiful piece of writing with the message: Music will ease the tension around the global climate crisis. Music has "soft power" to help people change awareness about protecting the living environment.

“I have seen many hearts flutter at your music. Many scientists, many politicians bow to his talent and personality. I understand that you have a strange influence on your music; and I hope from that influence, millions of people will change!...

He is not the first, but he can be the one to make the change. As for me - The Wind without Borders - I vow to accompany you to send this "celestial song - the words of the motherland" to everywhere ...".

The winner’s letter was translated into French by the Organizing Board and sent to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Switzerland for the international letter writing competition.

Some pictures at the Closing Ceremony and Awarding Ceremony: