On April 27, 2014, National Geographic Channel (NGC) renews
its commitment to the environment by celebrating this year’s Earth Day (which
falls on April 22 globally) with another round of its wildly successful Earth
Day Run. Now on its fifth year, Earth Day Run is expected to attract 12,000
running enthusiasts of all ages and fitness levels to participate for the good
of the environment.
Earth Day Run has consistently been besting its record for
number of participants, with last year’s expected number of 10,000 runners
demolished by an actual registered 12,000 participants. NGC hopes to replicate
that success for Earth Day Run 2014 by registering 12,000 runners in the 3K,
5K, 10K and 21K categories, including a new fifth category of 42K designed to
draw the most physically fit and expert runners in the country. The event
itself is considered one of the biggest runs in the Philippines.
This year, NGC is working once again with its environmental
partner, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to
make a solid difference in the Philippines’ environmental footprint and give
sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. Last year, the two
organizations used proceeds of the Earth Day Run to plant P1 million worth of
fruit-bearing trees in the Abuan watershed in Isabela, in the Sierra Madre
region. Besides partial reforestation of this important resource, local farmers
were given the privilege to own and care for the trees as well as harvest their
fruits for their income. In 2014, NGC promises to raise money for WWF’s
Bancas For The Philippines project, which aims to train fishermen affected by
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) last November 2013 in the making and use of fiberglass
boats for artisanal fishing. These boats are designed to withstand the
onslaught of typhoons to ensure that the fishermen can continue with their
livelihood in any event.
WWF’s experts will train fishermen on site and help them
build the fiberglass boats while reducing the use of sawn timber and plywood,
in the hopes that the communities can produce one boat per day. Many fishermen
were left with no sources of income when their boats were destroyed by Haiyan,
and so this project is a significant step toward the rehabilitation of
communities in Palawan, which was ravaged by the typhoon last November but slow
to receive relief due to the sheer number of islands in central Philippines
that needed to recover from the devastation. Earth Day Run 2014 aims to help
these fishermen directly with the sharing of climate-smart technology that will
help them recover their livelihood, as well as decrease the fishing pressure on
our seas that have been heavily exploited by commercial fishing by promoting
artisanal fishing for small-scale fishermen.
Earth Day Run uses recyclable materials for its race bibs
and a “Zero Paper” registration process in the form of a Centralized
Registration System, which National Geographic pioneered in the country.
Participants can support the Haiyan rehabilitation efforts of NGC and WWF by
signing up on www.natgeorun.com or
visiting the sign-up booth at the Lower Ground floor of SM Aura from March 1 to
April 20. Finishers of the longer races of 21K and 42K can not only take pride
in their physical victory and willingness to help Haiyan survivors and the
environment, but they will also each be getting a medal and finisher’s shirt to
commemorate their triumph.
Nearly four months after Typhoon Haiyan, those affected by
it still need so much help, and it has become important to sustain the public’s
interest in their rehabilitation. Earth Day Run 2014 invites all runners to
register and do their part while enjoying the health benefits of good exercise
and unity in supporting the survivors of one of the most devastating natural
disasters in the country’s history.
About The National Geographic Channels International
National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) inspires
viewers through its smart, innovative programming that questions what we know,
how we view the world and what drives us forward. A business enterprise
owned by National Geographic Ventures and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI
contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration,
conservation and education through its six channels: National Geographic
Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo
People and Nat Geo Mundo.
Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S.,
which is a joint venture of NGV and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in
more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages.
For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.
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