Mexico's Environmental Ministry and Grupo Salinas Award 'Las Ciudades Mas Limpias de Mexico' Prize to Foment Anti-Litter Campaigns

Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego Announces that "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" Will Be a Permanent, Ongoing Anti-Litter Campaign

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing effort to clean up Mexico, the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada and Grupo Salinas Founder and Chairman Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego awarded yesterday winners of the "Ciudades Mas Limpias de Mexico", "Recicla 2009" and "Lideres ambientales de la Comunidad" contests as part of the "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" campaign. Also participating in the awards ceremony was Yucatan Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco.

On March 25 of this year, Grupo Salinas and its Fundacion Azteca teamed up with SEMARNAT, inviting Mexican society to join the "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" campaign to increase awareness of the problem of waste control and possible solutions.

The "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" national cleanup day was held on May 31, with more than one million people participating in the collection of 3,500 tons of garbage.

As a follow-up, in July the guidelines were published for the "Ciudades Mas Limpias de Mexico", "Recicla 2009" and "Lideres Ambientales de la Comunidad" contests.

The "Ciudades Mas Limpias de Mexico" contest targets municipal governments throughout Mexico, as well as delegation offices in Mexico City to promote best practices for cleaning streets, beaches, parks and forests, with gold medal prizes awarded to Izamal, Yucatan; Benito Juarez, Quintana Roo; Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes and Culiacan, Sinaloa. Silver medal recipients were: Chihuahua, Chihuahua; Tulum, Quintana Roo; Tulancingo, Hidalgo; Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas; Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas; Morelia, Michoacan; Acajete, Puebla; Queretaro, Queretaro; and Colima, Colima.

The "Recicla 2009" contest was designed to invite members of the private and public sector, as well as society in general, to recognize and promote the best practices in recycling for existing and potential developments in Mexico.

The "Lideres Ambientales de la Comunidad" contest recognizes and promotes the best practices of citizens within the "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" campaign.

During the awards event, Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego announced that "Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico" will be a permanent and ongoing campaign, with the next national cleanup day to be held in the month of February of next year.

About Fundacion Azteca

Fundacion Azteca is the organization of Grupo Salinas that promotes corporate, social and ecological responsibility, joining needs with organizations and individuals willing to make commitments to create solutions. The foundation also operates in Peru and Guatemala, as well as in the United States through Fundacion Azteca America. For more information, visit www.fundacionazteca.com.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to build the middle class of the countries where they operate, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies, TV Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

    For international media inquiries, contact:
    Daniel McCosh
    dmccosh@gruposalinas.com
    52 55 1720 0059

SOURCE Grupo Salinas; SEMARNAT; Fundacion Azteca; TV Azteca; Grupo Elektra