Posted: March 11th, 2009 - 12:21pm by Katie Filion

I’m a fan of karaoke. Robert Pattinson and Hugh Jackman are fans of karaoke. And now the form of entertainment that allows amateur singers like myself to perform popular music is a medium for communicating bird flu messages in Cambodia, reports Radio Australia News.

According to the story,

“Cambodian authorities will use a karaoke video starring a popular local singer to try to raise awareness of bird flu. The video is part of a United Nations-sponsored health program, to alert people to the dangers of transporting poultry in the lead-up to the Khmer New Year holiday in mid-April. During the celebrations Cambodians traditionally serve chicken and duck dishes.

The video encourages farmers to wash their hands and keep their poultry pens clean. It urges them to keep children away from poultry, and report sick and dead birds to local authorities.”

Using karaoke as a way to communicate food safety issues is a great idea, and definitely thinking outside the box.