The
public are being challenged to test their climate knowledge with a new online game launched by Oxfam today.
The Climate Challenge features top celebrities, including Gael Garcia Bernal
(Amores Perros, Motorcycle Diaries), Mackenzie Crook (Brothers Grimm, The Office UK, Pirates of the Caribbean), David Tennant (Dr Who, Harry
Potter) and Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty, Extras) who answer climate questions under the control of the online player. The game is available to play at www.theclimatechallenge.org.
The game is designed to raise public awareness about climate change and what can be done to tackle it. It is being launched ahead of the UN
climate negotiations in Copenhagen next month, where Oxfam is campaigning for a global deal that will protect the millions of poor people already affected and the generations to come.
Mackenzie
Crook said: "The climate challenge is a fun and interactive way to understand more about what we're doing to our planet. There is a serious message behind this that we must put pressure on
our leaders to agree an ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen."
As well as testing their own knowledge, players will be able to challenge and compete with their friends through Facebook.
At the end of each game, players will also have the chance to take action on climate change by adding their name to a global petition demanding a fair and strong climate deal at the end of the
year.
Other celebrity supporters include the actress Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter, The Hours) and musicians Amadou and Mariam,
Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and Mike Bonano (Yes Men). The game was created by Monterosa Formats.
Oxfam hopes the game will encourage people to march at The Wave in London and Glasgow on December
5 to demand that the UK government push for a deal that will help poor people protect themselves from climate change and stop dangerous temperature rises.
Gael Garcia
Bernal said: "Did you know how much energy you save by putting on a sweater and turning your thermostat down by just two degrees? Now is your chance to find out by playing
Oxfam's climate challenge www.theclimatechallenge.org"
Nicky Wimble, Oxfam's
Creative Communications Strategist said: "Audience research shows that people care about climate change but don't really understand what's at stake for our planet. Oxfam hopes that
millions of people play this game, learn some shocking but realistic facts about climate change and become fired up to do something about it - both personally and by lobbying their
governments."
More from the Oxfam Press Office at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/news
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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