Reflections on Miss Earth 2010

Vietnam is a country high biodiversity sheltered within network of national parks, nature reserves and marine protected areas. It is also a nation of contrasts, with ambitious development of urban centres, fertile deltas threatened by rising sea levels and mountainous regions populated by ethnic minorities living by subsistence farming. On paper, it is an ideal venue for Miss Earth, a beauty contest designed to promote the protection of nature and to develop social and environmental advocates. Indeed, the account of Miss Earth 2010 on Wikipedia creates the image of a well-run beauty contest with a strong environmental focus. However, those who participated and followed the month long programme had a somewhat less positive impression.

Good luck Miss Ile Durable

Anne-Lise Ramooloo, elected Miss Ile Durable 2010, will arrive in Vietnam tomorrow (Wednesday 3^rd November) hoping to make Mauritius proud in the annual Miss Earth contest. Miss Earth was started in 2001 by the organisers of Miss Philippines. Their aim was to create a beauty contest that focuses global attention on the urgent need to do much more to protect the environment. Now in its tenth year, Miss Earth has grown in prestige and popularity to rival Miss World.