German engineering firm Siemens began accepting entries on August 17 in its Green Technology Journalism Awards.

The awards are open to journalists in print and online media fromIndonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand andVietnam , and mark the first such awards in Asia .

"Concerns such climate change, sustainable living and conservation areat the forefront of our modern society," said Siemens Vietnam CEO ErdalElver.

"There is a vital need to create sustainableeconomics which engender prosperity and protect resources withleading-edge and environmentally-viable technologies."

Supporting quality journalism in the field would help build awareness of green issues, he added.

Entries would be evaluated by their news value and relevance to thethree award catergories – energy efficiency, industrial productivity andsustainability – as well as the journalists' writing skills.

Winners in each category will receive cash prizes and an opportunityto attend a seminar on sustainability and new technologies held by theTechnical University of Berlin, as well as to visit Siemens R&D andproduction centres in Germany .

All entriesneeded to have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2010,in mainstream media such as newspapers, magazines or websites.

Entries will be judged in English, so journalists publishing indifferent languages would be required to include an English translationof the piece.

A local judging panel will submit thebest articles from each country to a regional jury, which will make thefinal awards decision. This panel will include academics and opinionleaders, media and business professionals, and public officials from theparticipating countries.

Entries must be receivedby December 31, 2010, with registration and other information availableonline at www.siemens.vn/SGTJA 2010./.