The writing and illustration competition for young students "Travel Diaries - Antarctica Award" was presented by the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) and the Secretariat for Malvinas, Antarctica and the South Atlantic of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at students in their final years of secondary schools from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Spain.
The contest, which was presented on August 2nd at the Ministry's Palacio San Martín, seeks to establish bridges between young people and Antarctica, promote awareness and responsibility in respect of our heritage and the environment and integrate literary and pictorial proposals with projects of a historical, social and scientific nature.
Accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Foreign Ministry, Pablo Tettamanti, the director of the Argentine Office of the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI), Luis Scasso, and national congresswoman for the province of Tierra del Fuego, Rosana Bertone, among other authorities and ambassadors, Secretary for Malvinas, Antarctica and the South Atlantic, Daniel Filmus, stressed that “we launched this contest with the support of President Alberto Fernández and Minister of Foreign Affairs Felipe Solá, so that children and young people understand the purpose of the work that our country undertakes in Antarctica together with Chile, Brazil, Spain and why we consider that the future of humanity depends to a large extent on preserving the white continent”.
The presentation of the contest also had important virtual participations of ambassadors posted in the region and an intervention from Argentine Carlini Station Leader Fernando Sosa and Lic. Eduardo Luis Barlet.
Luis Scasso, for his part, pointed out that “Antarctica has been an exemplary space for cooperation between Ibero-American countries. It has been an example of scientific, logistical, humanitarian -in some cases-, and educational cooperation. And in that sense, promoting regional integration through joint work on the Antarctic continent and the South Atlantic as a zone of peace and cooperation, is part of the cooperative activity of the OEI, in terms of what was indicated by our Secretary General and indicated in the program and budget provisions of our institution”.
The event was attended by, among others, the Argentine ambassadors in Brazil, Spain and Chile. From Brasilia, Daniel Scioli assured that “with Brazil we have a strong commitment in Antarctica, and a permanent dialogue mechanism on scientific cooperation. This initiative will help consolidate integration in such a significant space for humanity. "
Ricardo Alfonsín, from Madrid, stressed the need to bring new generations, through emotional and intellectual connection, closer to a continent that has been able to preserve peace through dialogue and scientific activity. Rafael Bielsa, in Santiago de Chile, pointed out that “Antarctica concerns Chile and Argentina”, and highlighted Argentina's Antarctic vocation worldwide, and that “having the southern seas as zones of peace should be a task promoted on a daily basis”.
The event´s launching was also attended in virtual form by the OEI's Deputy Secretary General, Andrés Delich, the director of the organization's Brazil office, Raphael Callou Neves Barros and Antarctic Treaty Executive Secretary, Albert Lluberas.
Present in the room were the National Director of the Antarctic, Patricia Ortúzar; the Director of the Argentine Antarctic Institute (IAA), Walter Mac Cormack; the National Director of Antarctic Foreign Policy, Máximo Gowland; the Coordinator of the IAA's Social Sciences, Communication and Promotion Area, Pablo Fontana; Commander Oscar Alfredo Acosta of the Antarctic Joint Command.
The texts of the "Travel Diary" need to be submitted before October 4th; while the illustrations will be received until November 22nd. The Jury will be made up of a specialist in children and youth literature, a specialist in book illustration, a member of the OEI and a representative of the Secretariat for Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic.
The contest winners will receive a diploma, a tablet, a digital anthology that will compile the selected written and artistic productions and will participate in a virtual synchronic communication with scientists who carry out tasks at the Carlini Station. And, if the pandemic so allows it,
they may be able travel to Antarctica to visit the Carlini Station.
For more information and registration go to https://bit.ly/premioantartida
