For more than a decade, Lions Clubs International has been committed to promoting peace in our world through the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. This year, thousands of young people around the globe will be challenged to express their feelings about world peace and depict their versions of how to Celebrate Peace. Children throughout the world including San Pedro will have a chance to reflect on the importance of peace in their lives and share their visions with the world.

    Entry requirements for the contest are as follows: All posters must have dimensions no smaller than 14 by 20 inches and no larger than 20 by 24 inches. All entries must be flexible enough to be rolled up for shipping in a 2-1/2 inch diameter tube. No words, in any language, may be used on the poster. Pencils, crayons, pens, markers, paint or chalk may be used. (Chalk entries should be sprayed with a spray fixative to prevent smearing.) No three-dimensional entries. Nothing may be glued, taped, stapled or attached to the poster in any way. Entries cannot be laminated. No photographs may be used. Each student may submit only one entry, and each entry must be the original work of only one student.

    Instructions have been distributed to a contact person in each of the schools. Friday, October 20th has been set as the deadline for all entries. The posters will be displayed at the Lions Den at a date to be announced, where a panel of judges will determine the winners from entries based on originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme, Celebrate Peace. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a cash prize while first place winner will also receive a certificate.

    The winning entry from San Pedro will then compete with other winners from Belize City, San Estevan, and Belmopan. The winning poster will then advance to international level. Ultimately, after advancing through four levels of competition, one poster will be selected as the international grand prize winner. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to the Awards Ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations in New York, New York (subject to change) USA accompanied by two family members (one being the child’s parent or legal guardian) and the sponsoring Lions Club president. At the awards ceremony, he or she will be presented with a cash award of US$2,500 and an engraved commemorative plaque. All this will take place in February or March, 2007.

    Twenty-three international merit award winners will each receive a certificate of achievement and a cash award of US$500.

    The San Pedro Sun wishes all the participants of San Pedro good luck and invites the general public to witness their creations at their grand display.