European environment festival kicks off in Bulgaria

The Eighth European Environment Festival "Green Wave -- 21st Century", the oldest such event in Bulgaria, kicked off here on Friday in the Rhodope mountain town. More than 70 movies from 24 countries and regions will compete for the Grand Stork's Nest Prize during the three-day event, including five Chinese productions: A Battle for Water; Forest China; Life Continues After Wenchuan Earthquake; Fish Worship; and Chinese Swan -- The Wuliangsu Lake in Summer. Last year, the Chinese film A Tree Can Only Bear One Bird's Nest won the Grand Stork's Nest Prize for Travel films and productions about the protection of cultural and natural heritage. The festival, which aims to present contemporary films and TV programs on ecology and environment protection as well as acquaint the people with environmentalist activities, also includes a variety of activities such as a photo exhibition. Hasan Azis, Mayor of Kardzhali Municipality, said at the opening ceremony that the festival would give residents a unique opportunity to see what the environmental problems in the world are, and ways to solve them. Chavdar Georgiev, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, said the festival was a very important and good initiative contributing to building a better attitude towards the environment. Liu Yonghong, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy in Sofia, who also attended the opening ceremony, said development was very important, but the protection of nature was even more important.