Special commendation at the Bemas for passion for the planet

Earthwatch, the international environmental organisation, and Passion for the Planet radio station are celebrating this week after Passion received a Special Commendation at this year's British Environment and Media Awards for the series of interviews that made up Earthwatch Month.

Earthwatch Month was kindly supported by Amerada Hess and profiled winners of the Earthwatch Teacher Awards as they worked alongside leading scientists on Earthwatch field research projects around the country.

The aim was to highlight the important contribution made by UK teachers to conservation projects such as Britain's Basking Sharks, Mammals of Wytham Woods and Eagles of Mull, and to inspire other teachers and members of the public to become involved in Earthwatch projects.

Judges of the British Environment and Media Awards said that Passion for the Planet deserved special recognition for the way it was imaginatively covering environmental issues in the new media of digital radio and for its collaboration with Earthwatch to make this programme so topical.

Zoe Gamble, Press Officer at Earthwatch says, ‘Earthwatch Month was a great opportunity for our scientists and award winners to tell the listeners of Passion for the Planet about their experiences in the field. We are now welcoming applications for the 2005 Earthwatch Teacher Awards and we hope that Passion for the Planet will once again join our winners on new Earthwatch projects such as Seals of Scilly and Dolphins and Whales of the Inner Hebrides.'

Chantal Cooke, Managing Director of Passion for the Planet says, ‘We are thrilled to receive this Special Commendation and are pleased that the judges have recognised that informative radio can be delivered in an exciting new format. Passion is dedicated to health and environment issues and we are always delighted to work alongside Earthwatch.'

For press information, interviews and images, contact:

Zoe Gamble, Press Officer, Earthwatch, on + 44 (0) 1865 318813 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk

Editors Notes