Exhibition showcasing damaging effect of wasting water arrives in Estonia

The Nordic Council of Ministers, in association with the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, is bringing to Estonia a poster exhibition based on entries submitted to the pan-European 'Drop by Drop' print media competition, which was organised by the United Nations to promote the economical use of water.

The exhibition, which comprises the works of the 20 finalists in the competition, will open to the public on the first floor of the TV Tower in Tallinn on 21 June and will remain on display until 5 July. Thereafter it will take up residence of the Town Hall courtyard in Pärnu from 9-19 July before moving on to Iceland.

The 'Drop by Drop' competition was launched by the UN with the aim of producing an advertisement or series of advertisements which would inspire people to make more economical use of water and to rethink their consumption habits. If people and industry do not change the way they use water, 50% of the world's population could be living in water-starved regions within as little as 15 years. 5000 people are already dying every day due to a lack of clean drinking water.

3500 entries were submitted to the competition by professionals and enthusiasts from 45 European countries.

Denmark's Crown Prince Fredrik awarded the winner, Daniele Gaspari from Italy, with the main prize of 5000 euros, sponsored by the Nordic Council of Ministers, as part of International Environment Day on 5 June.

The 'Drop by Drop' exhibition forms part of the awareness-raising campaign of the UN's sustainable development conference Rio +20, which is being held from 20-22 June 2012.