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Reigate, 8 May 2007 – Canon UK, world-leader in imaging solutions, and WWF, the global conservation organisation, have today announced increased collaboration to support the tagging and tracking of
individual polar bears in the Arctic region. Building on Canon’s long-term support of WWF as a Conservation Partner since 1998, the new agreement ensures that more polar bears will be tagged in 2007 and 2008 than ever before, enabling WWF to significantly
increase the amount of valuable scientific information it can collect on the polar bears. The movements of selected polar bears can be followed on the new improved WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker website (www.panda.org/polarbears). This website
was originally launched by WWF’s Arctic Programme and the Norwegian Polar Institute in 2002 to monitor and track the movements of radio-collared polar bears via satellite on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Launched today on the WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracker website is the ‘Save the Polar Bear’ children’s microsite, a groundbreaking undertaking aimed at educating children aged 7-11 years about the environmental impact of
climate change. The website will have an active rollout in 13 different countries across Europe.* The polar bear has an extremely high profile globally as a key indicator of global warming, struggling to survive in one of the most fragile and beautiful regions on our planet, the Arctic. By focusing on the plight of the
polar bear and the threat to its habitat, the educational microsite aims to educate young children about the issues and challenges of climate change in fun and engaging ways that also teaches them how they can personally make a difference to reducing
their own impact on the environment. The microsite provides a unique, interactive web experience for kids and features educational games, trivia and fact sheets themed around the Arctic environment. It is ‘hosted’ by two animated polar bear cubs called ‘Auro’
and ‘Borea’ who interact with children as they move through the activities on the microsite. As well as providing educational fun for children, teachers and parents are also encouraged to get involved through the provision of downloadable Teachers’ Packs
and resources for parents. To encourage repeat visits, the microsite boasts a range of exciting prizes that will be awarded to children who register to play games and complete tasks online. Children that top special ‘Snowball Leagues’ at the end of
each month in 2007 stand the chance of winning the latest Canon digital cameras and printers, with a grand prize winner in each European territory winning prizes for their school at the end of the year. Paul Steele, WWF International’s Chief Operating Officer said: “Canon Europe was our first-ever conservation partner and we are very grateful to the company for its ongoing support. We are particularly thrilled to be
partnering with Canon Europe to undertake our first ever pan-European educational campaign for children. With Canon’s help, we hope to be able to reach the hearts and minds of children so that future generations will have the knowledge and impetus to make
the necessary changes in their lifestyles to help conserve the environment.” He continued: “Canon Europe is taking positive steps towards assuming a position of environmental leadership. This project is another strong example of its commitment to this goal and furthermore demonstrates how, by
working together we are able to fulfil our mutual objectives. Ongoing dialogue with Canon to help the company find new solutions to future environmental challenges remains a key element of our partnership.” Andy Vickers, Managing Director, Canon UK, said: “Climate change and the associated issues of global warming and environmental consciousness are of crucial importance to the people of Canon, both as members of a socially
responsible company and as individuals. We are proud to be supporting this important project as it has strong synergies with our corporate philosophy of Kyosei – which means living and working together for the common good.” He continued: “By working with the WWF to address some of the key challenges of environmental sustainability through better understanding, we hope to engage as wide an audience as possible – from children to their parents
and teachers – and encourage them to do their part for the environment.” As a Conservation Partner of WWF since 1998, Canon has proudly supported a number of previous WWF initiatives, including a toner cartridge recycling programme to raise funds for WWF’s Global Freshwater Programme,
involvement in WWF Canon PAN Parks, a yearly employee volunteering project to protect Europe’s wilderness, and as the title sponsor of the WWF-Canon Photo Database, an important online communications tool for the WWF Network. Further development of the microsite will continue in 2008, with the addition of new attractive features, games and educational material.
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