STORY: Ethiopia launches nationwide campaign to fight environmental pollution
SHOOTING TIME: March 29, 2024/Earlier footage
DATELINE: March 31, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:05
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the launching of the campaign
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RAMIZ ALAKBAROV, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia
3. various of electric vehicles in Ethiopia (Earlier footage)
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Amharic): TEMESGEN TIRUNEH, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister
5. various of Addis Ababa (Earlier footage)

STORYLINE:

The Ethiopian government launched a six-month nationwide campaign on Friday to fight environmental pollution.

The campaign, dubbed "Beat Pollution" and targeted to reach more than 30 million Ethiopians, will be implemented in collaboration with the United Nations office in the country and other stakeholders.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RAMIZ ALAKBAROV, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia
"The economic development of the world has taken a toll, particularly on the countries of Africa, which are contributing less of the emissions, which are contributing less of the pollution, but are on the taking side from what has happened in more industrialized parts of the world. Yet, it is the countries of the continent, specifically Ethiopia, which can and is leading the charge to change this situation. This is the most noble act one can perform. I call on all of you to participate very actively and call on all of you to be active parts of the change. I pledge the United Nations' support to this important initiative."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Amharic): TEMESGEN TIRUNEH, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister
"Protecting the environment from pollution should not be seen as a luxury. Rather, it should be seen as a matter of survival. Through this campaign, we envisage making sure all our cities are free from plastic and water pollution, making sure our arable land is free from acidic soil and improves productivity, creating safe and environmentally friendly industrial operations, and finally enforcing already existing sound pollution laws."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)