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The LIFE programme celebrates its 20th anniversary throughout May 2012 (the LIFE Regulation passed into law on 21 May 1992, to be precise). To mark this important milestone in the history of the EU's financial instrument for the environment, the LIFE units warmly invite all LIFE projects, past or present , to organise an open day in May and to take part in not one but TWO special competitions.

A panel of judges will select the 20 "best" photos and the 20 "best" texts, and from these 20 will then select the 3 "best of the best" photos and the 3 "best of the best" texts.

• The authors of the 3 "best of the best" photographs and the 3 "best of the best" texts will each win a compact camera.
• The authors of the 20 "best" photos and the 20 "best" texts will each receive a framed print.

The 20 photos and 20 texts will be published on the LIFE web site. It is also planned to exhibit them in May (details to follow).

Last but not least, to mark LIFE's 20th birthday, all LIFE projects past and present are warmly invited to organise an open day sometime during May 2012, on a date that is convenient (the 21st is a Monday, which is not necessarily ideal). These LIFE project events would not only communicate to your stakeholders, local public and to the media about your project but also to an appropriate extent about LIFE's 20th Anniversary.

LIFE Nature projects are no doubt aware that the same date is also the 20th anniversary of the Habitats Directive and of the Natura 2000 network, and we hope that this would feature in your open day as well.

These LIFE project events will take place across Europe throughout the month of May. If you are organising one we would very much like to know about it, even if it is not in May. Please upload details here . You can later keep track of all events via the LIFE's 20th anniversary calendar.

Don't forget to check out the LIFE website for useful communication tools that can help you plan and publicise your event.

Twenty years of LIFE is truly something worth celebrating. With your help we can make May 2012 a month to remember!