*Entries open: Wednesday 16 November 2022*
*Submission Deadline: Tuesday 29 November 2022*
Theme: Poetry as an advocate for sustainable mining practices
INTRODUCTION
Mining is a key contributor to economic growth, but it also causes considerable environmental and social disruption like human displacement which affects the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of local communities.
Poetry can play a key role in the development of environmental ethics and can be used as a spotlight to shine on issues that deserve community attention.
It has the potential to give people a voice and permits the meaningful exchange of ideas between different groups of people.
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PROJECT SCOPE
Use poetry to:
• Highlight environmental concerns and challenges faced by communities in mining areas in such a way that stimulates positive action amongst mining companies and communities that are being engaged.
• Analyse with the hope of providing a formal solution that will address the negative socioeconomic stance associated with artisanal mining due to its environmental, health and safety practices which are poor.
• Encourage poetic expressions which will in turn assist not only in expanding environmental education, but also play a role in reducing conflicts associated with mining ventures between mining companies and the affected communities.
• The competition shall run under the theme of *Poetry as an advocate for sustainable mining practices* and will be open to students and adults.
COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Using imagery, rhyme, rhythm, simile and metaphors participants will be asked to compose poetry that resonates around:
• Risk of environmental negligence
• Sustainability.
• The complicated relations between extractive industries and communities that are affected due to displacement and resettlement.
• The lack of community support by mining entities in contributing to social responsibilities which promote resident economies.
• No participants may be excluded from participating in the competition on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability.
PARTICIPATION PROCEDURE
• Entries *must be easy to read — no illustrations or fancy fonts.*
• Only one poem per poet may be submitted
• All entries must be primarily in English, the inclusion of a *few* non-English words or phrases is acceptable.
• *Citizens and residents of Zimbabwe as well as Zimbabwean citizens who are in the diaspora are eligible to enter.*
• Poems must be *45 lines or less* to qualify, not counting the title and any spaces between stanzas.
• A poem will be considered an invalid entry and will be discarded without being read or judged if it is not presented in the following format:
Title:
Poet:
City/Town
*Attached should be a short biography of not more than 10 sentences*
Submitted poems should be a voice that appeals and counsels mining stakeholders to recognize their role in viable mining practices so as to begin to develop initiatives that reduce environmental risks and standards that address effective community participation in environmental decision-making and development.
The competition guidelines have a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism. The originality of all published work will be checked.
Poems should be previously unpublished works and should be the original works of the entrant.
SUBMISSIONS: Should be sent to *gourdofconsciousnesspoetry@gmail.com or Whatsapp 0715450146/0782883203* with the subject line *Poetry as an advocate for sustainable mining practices*
*Poems must be sent in the body of the email.*
PRIZES
1. Winner, 1st and 2nd runner up – (2 books each)
2. Media publicity (print and electronic) – Interviews, poet profiles
3. Platforms: HStv, The Standard paper, Zimbabwe Independent, The Midlands Observer, 3mob.com, NewsDay Zimbabwe, Queensdale Observer
4. Full Membership (Gourd of Consciousness Poetry)
JUDGING: All entries shall be judged by a selected panel of judges.
RIGHTS: No ownership rights will be retained, such rights remain with the poet at all times. Entrants whose poems are selected shall agree to have their names including their photography, biographies and/or their voice, to be used for promotional purposes related to this competition, free of charge.
https://www.facebook.com/gourdofconsciousness
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