Zurich/Switzerland: Three leading members of ASEAN, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, are participating in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign. ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is home to 600 million people across 10 countries.
The Philippines have been showing the way, with President Benigno Aquino III visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River this week, urging all Filipinos to support their country’s candidate by internet as well as with the special New7Wonders SMS voting service set up in the Philippines itself. The Puerto Princesa Underground River campaign is also reaching out to the 11 million Filipinos who live and work overseas. For example, more than 500,000 Filipinos work in the United Arab Emirates alone, and it is expected that they will also be making full use of their mobile phones with the special New7Wonders SMS service in the UAE.
Meanwhile, Vietnam is planning a spectacular visit to its Finalist Halong Bay by the New7Wonders official delegation later this year. Ha Long Bay consists of a cluster of more than 3,000 limestone islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands contain enormous caves and many of the smaller ones have beautiful beaches.
Finally, Indonesia will soon return to the positive track once a new Official Supporting Committee for Komodo has been appointed by New7Wonders.
“We are very pleased with the passion and motivation amongst our participants in the ASEAN region,” said Eamonn Fitzgerald, spokesperson N7W. “Campaigns like this thrive when powered by energy, enthusiasm and effort. The developments we are seeing this week show that millions of people are passionate about nature.”