(VOVworld) – A national campaign to respond to the world’s clean-up campaign 2012 was launched  on Saturday in Danang city.

With the theme “our place….our planet….our responsibility”, the campaign aims to raise individual responsibility for environmental protection and encourage people to take part in community activities. In Vietnam, the damage caused by environmental pollution accounts for 1.5 to 3 percent of the country’s GDP and cost it nearly 800 million USD for public healthcare. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen said at the event: "We need to build laws and sub-law documents relating to environmental protection. Moreover, it is necessary to improve environmental management from the central to local levels. Waste treatment technology that is suitable to Vietnam’s conditions should be put into operation. People's awareness on environmental protection should be enhanced to create a better living environment". 

After the launching ceremony, state employees and youth union members cleaned the environment and planted 300 trees in Danang city.