By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The Belau Voices of Nature launched an Arts and Essay competition to promote awareness in the growing need for a balanced development that would sustain the country’s natural environment and cultural heritage.
The organization is encouraging any person in Palau to participate in the competition and that the there are two categories for the submission, the arts and the essay categories.
According to the competition rules, three finalists will be selected from each group and the first prize winner will be getting $500, 2nd prize will get $300 and the third prize will get $100.
According to the rules , Art submission, may be in any media, maybe 2 or 3 dimensional
and are to be less than 24"x36" in dimension.
It added that essays and or poems are to be typed written in 14 size font double spaced on single faced paper on no more than six pages. Participants may submit
a mix of two categories on a single submission, where for example a poem is written on a painting or paintings are included in an essay.
The deadline for submission of entries is on May 25, 2007 at Mingles ToToTo not later than 8 p.m.
The organization said that the title to the competition is: "Balance between our Natural
Environment and our need for Development."
Belau Voices of Nature said that, "people are encouraged to express themselves freely,
spontaneous and develop new ideas. Judges will evaluate the works mostly on the basis of your original ideas and concepts and less on technical abilities, in painting or writing.
Any questions should be sent in writing by email to: naturalbelau@yahoo.com.