DUBAI: A Dubai-based Filipino has been chosen one of three United Nations (UN) "citizen ambassadors" this year.
Jonathan Eric Defante, 23, will be honoured at the UN headquarters in New York after his 30-second winning video entry, One Bottle, One Life, was picked from hundreds of entries during the month-long contest. The two other winners are Sigin Renwa Ojulu, 20, from South Sudan/USA and Sergio Mario Valdez, 19, of Guatemala.
Defante will also get to see UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon next month to discuss his idea.
Defante's entry pitches the idea of re-using plastic bottles, making them into ‘bricks' to "create a model community in every nation made out of used plastic bottles or ‘eco bricks', which can be built by the people themselves as a source of income". The contest was held in observance of World Humanitarian Day 2011. Winners were announced in October.
His idea is not unique. Defante said "bottle schools" in Guatemala and the similar endeavour of My Shelter Foundation in Laguna, Philippines, inspired him. When run as a cooperative, people can find sustainable livelihoods — "changing lives, one bottle at a time" he said.
In his video, Defante said 2.7 million tonnes of plastic bottles, or more than 75 per cent of plastic bottles produced in the US alone in 2010, end up in landfills each year. "I felt our generation can do better," he said.
As a "citizen ambassador", Defante and his fellow winners are expected to be "the voice of ordinary citizens".
"It's a privileged position that would allow me to relay concerns of ordinary citizens to international community leaders… and, hopefully, bring about changes for the better," said the electronics engineering graduate.
Defante first worked as an instructor in his Manila-based alma mater before joining his cousin in Dubai, landing a job as a salesman at Dubai Mall's Virgin Megastores.
Citizen's voice
The contest was launched in 2009 as part of the UN's effort to utilise social networking to give citizens a voice in diplomatic issues, inviting people aged 18 or above to engage with decision-makers through YouTube.
What the winners get
- Customised HD Mino Flip Cam
- Title of "Citizen Ambassador to the UN" for two years
- Complimentary flight + two-nights' stay in New York in December
- Get to pitch idea in person to the Secretary General, personal meeting and photo-op with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Winning videos will be screened at the UN by end of 2011.
