Speech

These grants will be awarded to projects in the areas of conservation, preservation of the environment, Lao culture and heritage.

Eligible projects fall into four broad categories:

Natural Environment – projects to conserve flora, fauna and/or their respective habitats.

Heritage – projects to conserve man-made aspects of Lao national or Asian heritage and cultural art forms.

Conservation Engineering – projects to reduce the rate of consumption of natural resources and/or pollution.

Child and Youth Projects – any conservation project involving young people aged 18 or under.

It is this final category that I find to be the most exciting, since it is the Lao youth of today who need to protect their unique natural and cultural heritage for their children.

As I travel around Laos I am struck by the natural beauty, much of it in remote areas.  Most recently I was in Huaphan, where the population numbers under 500,000 and where natural beauty abounds, such as the caves in Vieng Sai.

I hope that as Laos opens its borders via new road and bridges to its more populated neighbors and encourages investment in the hydroelectric and mining sectors that this is done is a way that protects Lao’s unique heritage, both environmental and cultural.

Unfortunately, damage is already being done to this beautiful country right now, by deforestation and wildlife poaching especially.

Laos must catch up to other countries in the region by educating people on the importance of protecting its environment and cultural heritage. I am glad to see an American Company – Ford Motor Company, which supports projects like these all over the globe taking the lead on this front. 

Therefore, I am most pleased to come here today to talk to you bright young people.  Lucky young people, too, I think, to be receiving environmental scholarships from the Ford Motor Company.

Thank you.