Blue Peter has launched a creative writing competition that gives young viewers the chance to win a money-can’t-buy prize leading up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow this November.
Viewers are being asked to write a poem or short story to capture the imagination of people all over the globe, and inspire them to act – in the UK’s year of climate action – to protect ‘Our Planet Now’.
The winning words will become an animation, created by Aardman Studios, which will premiere at COP26 as governments, organisations and civil society come together to accelerate action towards the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
‘This is an amazing opportunity to have your voice heard by world leaders on the climate emergency, a subject that I care deeply about because it’s about your future. We have to act now to protect the planet and your future. Remember your words could change the world, so make sure your writing is powerful and descriptive.’
ELLIE GOULDING
Singer-songwriter
The winner will meet the team at Aardman Studios, creators of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, to see their animation being brought to life.
They will then attend the conference to see their film premiered, before it is shown on Blue Peter (Thursdays at 5pm on CBBC and BBC iPlayer) in November.
Filmmaker Jack Harries and Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell will help judge the competition.
‘I’m really looking forward to being a judge for this competition. This is a topic that is close to my heart and I’m so excited to hear first-hand from young people across the UK. The time is NOW to discuss these global issues and to see the next generation have their say on their planet.’
JACK HARRIES
Filmmaker
The British Library – custodian of the UK’s national collection of published, written and digital content – will also preserve the words to their poem or story in perpetuity.
The competition is being run in conjunction with COP26 and the winner will be announced on Blue Peter in November.
As well as receiving an Orange competition winner’s badge, all 30 shortlisted entries will receive a Green Blue Peter Badge, which was relaunched earlier this month with a Climate Heroes initiative.
More information about Climate Heroes and full rules for the competition can be found here.
Blue Peter’s Climate Heroes and Our Planet Now competition are part of special content from BBC Children’s across 2021 inspiring children to reconnect with the outdoors.
Available on BBC iPlayer, CBBC’s Planet Defenders explores the work of six passionate and charismatic young filmmakers battling to protect the planet.
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