Twenty candidates of the beauty pageant Miss Earth 2010 on Nov. 8 made a visit to the Da Phuoc Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City and met with local women to share environmental protection ideas.

The visit is the kick-start of the beauty competition -- hosted by Vietnam for the first time -- affirming the contest’s target of raising the public’s awareness of environmental protection.

At the meeting with women from Binh Chanh districts, the beauties shared their wishes that women and all people would pay more attention to the environment, waste, air pollution and water resources, and join hands in environmental protection for a better life.

Miss Earth 2009, Larrissa Ramos of Brazil said her country and many other countries, especially developing ones she has visited, are facing major environmental issues. She said waste in urban areas was an important issue and Vietnam and other countries needed to formulate effective management measures to protect the living environment and scenic urban areas.

Other beauties also stressed people’s responsibility in environmental protection. The host representative, Miss Vietnam World 2010 Luu Thi Diem Huong said attention should be paid to educating children and women on the importance of environmental protection.

The Miss Earth pageant, initiated by the Caruosel Production Group of the Philippines in 2001, is one of the five biggest beauty contests in the world.
This year’s contest gathers 90 delegates from countries and territories around the world, with various activities taking place in many localities nationwide from Nov. 4-Dec. 4. The final will be held in Vinpearl Land, Nha Trang coastal city, in the central province of Khanh Hoa./.