A national cinema action “Keep your Dream – Say “No” to Drugs” was organized yesterday within the framework of the BUMAD–3 project implemented jointly by the EU and UNDP. The objective of the action timed to the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was to attract attention of the society to the drug addiction problem.

A feature movie “Requiem for a Dream” (USA, 2000) was shown at movie theaters in nine cities of Belarus– Minsk, Gomel, Mogilev, Zhlobin, Rechitsa, Lida, Pinsk, Soligorsk and Svetlogorsk. The film directed by Darren Aronofsky and nominated for Academy Award in 2001 is a drama about four drug addicts whose lives are rapidly and harshly devastated.

“The consequences of taking drugs and drug abuse need to be talked about all the year round, – stated Irina Zhigalko, BUMAD–3 Project Manager. – Yet today we would like to deliver a direct message for the youth through the cinema: drugs are an illusion of happiness and self–control. You have to make the right choice in your life, and this choice is all yours.”

Before the show, various interactive activities with the audience involved were organized at the movie theatres: thematic quizzes, contests for social video clips, drawings and photos. The most active participants were awarded with souvenirs depicting the action logos. Attending the cinema action were representatives of local authorities, departments of interior, health care, education, culture, NGOs.

The Minskmovie theater “Pobeda” hosted an award ceremony of the contest for the best photo, drawing and social video clip on drug abuse prevention. Belarusian singer Anastasiya Tikhanovich, the bands “Kharli”, “Tsvet Aloe”, “Zeitnot” joined the action to express their opinions about drugs and present awards to the winners of the thematic contests.

For reference: In 2008, the joint EU/UNDP BUMAD–3 project (the third stage of the Programme for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and the Fight against Drug Trafficking in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova) has been implementing a set of drug abuse prevention activities aimed at raising the awareness of young people about the negative consequences of taking drugs. The Programme is realized in partnership with state and non–state organizations.

For more information please refer to Natalia Nemkevich, Coordinator of the “Drug Abuse Prevention” component of the BUMAD–3 project in Belarus, at 219–78–29, or Vladislav Khilkevich, UNDP Communication Associate, at 227–38–17.

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