THE EARTH CRIES FOR IT, KIDS ARE EAGER TO DO IT
The Big Green Help Campaign Targets Children to
Join Global Effort to Combat Climate Change

Singapore/ Kuala Lumpur/ Bangkok/ Hong Kong, China, 19 November 2008 – Nickelodeon, the world’s most widely distributed kids’ network, partners with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to launch The Big Green Help, a global pro-social campaign that empowers Asian children between the ages of 2 to 14 years old to join efforts to tackle climate change.

In partnership with UNEP, Nickelodeon’s The Big Green Help campaign will introduce a series of environmentally themed programmes and activities with local campaign partners to nurture earth-friendly and energy-saving lifestyles among children, their families and friends. Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer will spread the green message and heighten connectivity with all children. Children will also be encouraged to complete as many tasks as possible on The Big Green Help Project Sheet (see link below), which provides actionable, measurable tasks and information on how they can contribute positively to the environment, to earn points for their schools by 31st December 2008. The top five schools that accumulate the most points in each participating country will be named The Big Green Help Champion Schools and can look forward to a surprise visit from their favourite Nickelodeon characters and be featured on Nickelodeon Channel.

Joanna Tan, Director and Head of Marketing and Communications for Nickelodeon Asia says, “Kids are aware of global warming and climate change, but don’t necessarily draw the connection or understand what they can do to help. The Big Green Help helps to translate complex environmental messaging or issues into simple meaningful actions for kids and empowers them to take the lead.”

Green messages and on-air promotional spots showing children taking environmental action will also be aired across Nickelodeon’s multimedia platform. Some of these initiatives include incorporating green themes in several of Nickelodeon’s popular television series like iCarly and The Naked Brothers Band, to actively encourage kids to visit and participate in the many games and quizzes on the newly launched The Big Green Help website (www.nicksplat.com/biggreenhelp).

“This year, the campaign will take off in Singapore and Malaysia. In 2009, we will expand it to more countries in Asia and the Pacific. Our aim is to give children the knowledge and tools that they need to contribute and make a real difference in saving our planet. By encouraging learning through play we hope to cultivate a new generation of young people who are passionate and committed to protecting the environment,” says Satwant Kaur, Information Officer of the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.  

Note to Editors:

About Nickelodeon Asia
Nickelodeon Asia, the leading entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to kids, is seen in more than 242 million households throughout the region with 24-hour channels and Nickelodeon branded program blocks on terrestrial. Territories include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Taiwan. Nickelodeon’s portfolio of branded businesses also includes Nickelodeon movies, music, publishing, interactive games, websites (www.nicksplat.com, www.nickjapan.com, www.nick.co.kr, www.nickelodeon.com.au, www.nickjr.com.au, www.nicknz.co.nz,  and www.nickindia.com), consumer products, as well as global sales and licensing of Nickelodeon program franchises. Internationally, Nickelodeon is the most widely distributed kid’s network in the world with a cumulative reach to 471 million households and 161 territories globally.

About The Big Green Help
In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, The Big Green Help campaign is a global pro-social initiative by Nickelodeon that translates complex environmental messaging or issues into simple meaningful actions to empower kids to lead the way in making the Earth a greener planet! There are a lot of confusing messages out there about why the environment needs our help, but one thing is clear: KIDS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

About the United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP's mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNite to combat climate change is the United Nations campaign to support the call for a definitive agreement on a comprehensive global climate regime for the period after 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires.

For more information, contact:

Ms Ho Yan Mok, MTV Networks Asia, Hong Kong
DID: (+852) 2313 8018; Email: mokhy@mtv-asia.com 

Mr Shane Lee, Nickelodeon, Marketing & Communications Manager
DID: (+65) 6420 7145, H/P: (+65) 9387 1376, Email: shane.lee@mtv-asia.com

Ms Satwant Kaur, UNEP, Regional Information Officer
Tel: (+66) 2 288 2127, Fax: (+66) 2 280 3829, Email: kaur@un.org

AsiaPRWerkz, Tel:(+65) 6536 6881, Fax:(+65) 6535 2008
Mr Matthew Loh, H/P: (+65) 9170 2541, Email: Matthew@asiaprwerkz.com
Ms Fiona Koh, H/P: (+65) 9100 4325, Email: Fiona@asiaprwerkz.com

The Big Green Help Project Sheet:
http://www.roap.unep.org/press/project/my2.pdf
http://www.roap.unep.org/press/project/sg2.pdf
http://www.roap.unep.org/press/project/bahasa_projectsht_web.pdf

 UNEP ROAP News Release 08/15