Utah Moms for Clean Air is sponsoring a poster contest in response to Utah’s Division of Gas, Oil and Mining’s (DGOM) Earth Day Poster Contest.
Founder Cherise Udell announced the contest on March 20, 2013 after reading about the DGOM’s contest in the Salt Lake Tribune.
“I saw this ridiculous article about the fossil fuel industry sponsoring a poster contest,” says Udell. “This is the perfect antidote.”
The theme for the Utah Moms contest is “Explore the Economic, Environmental and Health Costs of Fossil Fuels.” The contest is open to students in K through 6 and special education. Deadline for entries is April 17, 2013. Official rules can be found here.
Jim Springer, public information officer for the DGOM, says that industry and the division do good work based on science.
“We don’t see that greatly out of line with Earth Day,” says Springer. “Our quality of life would not exist without them (fossil fuels), and they can be developed in a responsible manner.”
This is the second year that a poster contest has been supported by the DGOM. This year’s theme is “Where Would WE Be Without Oil, Gas & Mining?”
“It makes Utah a laughingstock of the world,” says Udell. “I’m trying to reclaim dignity for the state.”
According to Springer, this year’s competition “may not conclude” because entries and sponsorships have been light. The DMOG will know more next week.
People wishing to donate prize money to the Utah Moms poster contest can do so on their web site. Udell would like to be able to offer the same prizes as the DMOG but can cover the announced prizes with donations already received.
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