Brion Young, assistant manager of Chaa Creek’s Belize Natural History Centre said that while the Miss Earth International Pageant may appear to be an unusual way to raise environmental awareness, Miss Earth Belize’s departure for Miami on November 9 to participate in this year’s Manila Pageant can only contribute towards spreading the message of environmental sustainability.
According to Belize’s Amandala newspaper, Amber Reneé Rivero is the formal Environmental Ambassador of Belize after being crowned Miss Earth Belize on August 24, 2013, and on Saturday, November 9, she departed the country for the first leg of her journey.
“When we first heard of the endeavour we thought it a novel idea that pageants were being used to raise environmental awareness. On reflection we thought it’s a great way to spread the message, and we will be following Ms Rivero’s trip with interest,” Mr Young said.
Ms Rivero’s Belize to Miami trip is the first leg of a journey that will take her to Manila, Philippines. While in Miami she will take part in final training for the pageant, according to a similar feature in Ambergris Today.
She will then depart Miami for Manila Thursday, November 14 to participate in a number of preliminary competitions before the December 7, 2013. pageant, which includes a costume competition.
The 2013 Miss Earth International theme is “International Year of Water Cooperation”, and Miss Rivero will model a costume that draws attention to The Belize Blue Hole, one of the most spectacular features of the Belize Great Barrier Reef.
This will be the first year that Belize will take part in the Miss Earth International Talent Competition, and Ms Rivero will play a piece on the violin, ‘Romanza’, which was composed by Sir Colville Young, the Governor General of Belize.
The pageant hopes to involve people from around the world through participation in an official Miss Earth International “Miss Photogenic” competition. Supporters are asked to “like” the image of their nominees on the Miss Earth Facebook page or by visiting http://www.missearth.tv .
On the same page, people can also vote for the “Best Environmental Video.”
Mr Young said that these “outside the box” approaches can be very helpful in spreading environmental awareness.
“Different cultures have different ways of becoming involved in issues and raising environmental awareness. As an eco-resort, Chaa Creek uses events like an annual free educational summer camp and sponsorships, some organisations produce colouring books and interactive materials, and this pageant is just one more idea of someone using a new concept to spread the message.
“The point is that the word is getting out, through a variety of media and avenues, and here at the Chaa Creek’s Natural History Centre we couldn’t be happier that one of our environmental ambassadors is on the other side of the world raising awareness about the Belize Great Barrier Reef in conjunction with the ‘International Year of Water Cooperation’ theme”, Mr Young said.
“We wish Amber all the best and I think she can be confident that many Belizeans and other people around the world will be actively supporting her efforts.
“We expect her to do well and congratulate her in her position as Environmental Ambassador of Belize,” Mr Young added.
The Miss Earth International Pageant will be held in Manila, Philippines, on December 7, 2013.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek is an award winning eco resort set within a 365 acre private nature reserve in Belize.