At this Imax cinema event, BICREF introduced the film "Blue Planet" with its own marine life slide show and talk on the beauty and needs of our local biodiversity.

A packed imax theatre of Children of ages 6 to 12 years were also allowed to ask questions at the end of each of the three presentations, one by Dr. Adriana Vella, Conservation Biologist and founder of BICREF, Alexia Chapman, marine biologist and Herbert Vella, SCUBA photographer (both BICREF members).

The Children therefore had the opportunity to share in the enthusiasm of discovering new wonders and creatures sharing this planet with them. Some BICREF T-shirts were also distributed for the pleasure of the kids. Information sheets were also distributed to all children for follow-up work and reading.

Fully aware of the local and global needs of our nature protection and respect, BICREF looked forward to contribute toward increasing local appreciation of the precious creation and natural complexity we are all living in.

As BICREF was planning this activity it greatly welcomed the Bishop's statement on the need for preserving our beautiful and necessary creation and to make sure that it is really protected in practice. A statement that should make us all really reflect on the direction our local consideration of environmental issues has been taking.

The Maltese Islands are unique jewels in the Middle of the Mediterranean, however small, they are precious and the Maltese need to be in the forefront to make sure that our decreasing natural resources and environmental status are immediately safeguarded and put high on any government's agenda for action.

For BICREF, an non-profit ngo that has been at the fore in environmental issues such as: the Tuna Penning developments in our coastal waters; Mgarr ix-Xini Bay damage last summer; promoters of effective protection of local biodiversity and vulnerable species including dolphins and turtles that goes beyond their mere listing in a list of protected species without support for their scientific monitoring and conservation management; promoters of protected and conservation areas monitored and managed with accurate knowledge; and promoters of sustainable development that is fair on all aspects of our natural environment from the most evident to the least.

BICREF's members are active research assistants who voluntarily dedicate time and effort toward promoting scientific conservation research for accurate local awareness of the status of our biodiversity and vulnerable species.

BICREF would like to thank Imax and Farsons for sponsoring this activity.

FEEDBACK FROM THE KIDS

In the weeks following the IMAX event, many of the kids sent in drawings they made about the BICREF presentation. Here are a few of them.