Global warming's not cool

Clean and Green messages were plastered across the Al A'ali Shopping Complex as more than 700 youngsters aged two to 18 set to with their paintbrushes and canvas doing their bit to save the planet.

The seventh annual Little Picassos Drawing Competition, organised by the International Advertising Agency (IAA) and held under the patronage of Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, head of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife under the theme 'Clean and Green' aimed to create awareness about ways of safeguarding the environment for the future.

Lipi Gupta, who took first prize in the 13 to 18 category, scored a hat-trick by taking top honours for the third consecutive year.

The 16-year-old Indian School pupil said: "I really enjoy drawing and took part in the competition first because I thought it would be fun.

"I drew hands carrying the earth with a tree on top and the recycle symbol surrounding it.

"We have just one planet and we have to save it no matter what. We have got to stop global warming as it's not cool at all.

"In school we have a group that volunteers in planting trees, cleaning the beaches and the school campus.

"My message was - 'reuse the past, recycle the present and save the future'."

Jayaditya Patil, nine from Zinj, a student at the Sacred Heart School, took second place in the seven to 12 category for his painting depicting a garden with children throwing waste into garbage tins and watering plants.

He said: "My message is that together we can and we will keep planet earth clean.

"For my part, I drop paper into the recycle bin in my school everyday and also grow small plants in my balcony at home."

Parent Ganesan T, a mechanical engineer from Manama, whose son Parinesh, two, won third prize for the Under-Seven category, said: "My son's pre-school teacher suggested he participate in the competition.

"My wife Parimala has been supporting him constantly and encouraging him to draw ... buying him all sorts of painting memorabilia like pencils and colours.

"He is so young, just a baby, and it is nice that he got to participate and win a prize."

Other winners include Pranshu Dasgupta and Valet Alexandra who won first and second places respectively for the under seven category, Avinash Sadanandan and Jana Ehab Adwan won first and third places for the seven to 12 category and Fatima Enas and Vishal Thamizharasan took the second and third places respectively for the 13 to 18 category.

Judges including artists Ella Prakash and Nooh Swar scanned the works of art for green messages and depictions.

Mrs Prakash, Ella Art Gallery owner from Hoora, said: "We selected the paintings based of the messages and the cleanliness.

"Many children painted really nice landscapes but they didn't have messages and so we didn't select them.

"The competition is good as it gives inspiration for the younger generation to learn about the environment and see what is going on around them."

Mahin Al Wazzan, business manager at IAA, said: "The competition was a tremendous success, not only in terms of the number of children who attended but also the creativity of drawings."

An exhibition of the best works of art will be held in Al Aali Shopping Complex until tomorrow.