Maneka Gandhi, the former environment minister of India will be chairing the Ninth Energy Globe Awards for local environmental projects to be held on May 26, 2008. Famous film star Aamir Khan has also been invited to be a part of this ceremony. According to a report by the European Parliament, it was reported on Tuesday that about 109 countries will participate in the event.

 

The Energy and Globe Award is an award which recognizes and rewards the local and regional projects that has helped towards the conservation of energy and environmental protection. It also recognizes those projects that helped in supplying basic resources like water and electricity to the poor communities.

 

There will be five different categories, namely - Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth among which projects from around the world will be competing for promoting the use of clean and renewable sources of energy. Actress Desiree Nosbusch will be the host of this event while guests will include dignitaries like former UN secretary general Kofi Annan. A lifetime achievement award will be presented to former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev.

 

There are various projects that have been nominated for the 2008 awards which include solar energy, systems for rural villages in Bangladesh, reforestation in Argentina and even hybrid vehicles to be used as public transport in Stockholm.