MUMBAI: French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand will receive the first ever Green World Award at MIPTV featuring MILIA. The new award has been created to recognize the efforts of industry professionals who have contributed to the global awareness of environmental issues.
Bertrand will receive the Green World Award on Tuesday 17 April during a dinner for industry executives. He will also give a keynote speech in which he will discuss television's role in the fight against global warming at the 44th annual MIPTV featuring MILIA event at Palais des Festivals, Cannes from 16 to 20 April.
"We want to contribute to the awareness of environmental concerns through our tradeshows," says Reed MIDEM Chief Executive Officer Paul Zilk.
"Television has a huge impact on public opinion and education, and the creation and broadcasting of environment-focused programming is extremely important. The series of documentaries inspired by Bertrand called "From Above," depict the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
"I'm delighted to receive the MIPTV featuring MILIA Green World Award," says Bertrand.
"My commitment to sustainable development grew from studying the Earth on a daily basis, from encounters and from readings. I became aware that my photos were useful and that my own convictions gave them additional value. The more interest one takes in our planet and the more one realises the issues at stake, the greater the desire to actively engage in change for the better."
Bertrand has had a childhood passion for nature and has run a nature reserve in France and also studied behavior of lions in Kenya. This is where he published his first book 'Lions'. He has worked as a photojournalist specializing in adventure sports, nature even tennis.
His pictures have been published in leading international magazines including Paris Match, Geo, Life and The National Geographic.In July 2005, Bertrand created GoodPlanet.org, a non-profit organisation aiming to promote sustainable development.
MIPTV featuring MILIA's 2007 conference programme opens on the 16 April with a conference entitled "Is Green TV prime-time TV?". The conference presents a panel of leading professionals specialising in the Green TV sector who will discuss the global development of environmental programmes.
