Activity Week 09

Activity Week 09

GoingGreen  //  The theme for this year's Activity Week is Going Green. During the week we will be exploring a variety of environmental issues that are affecting US and OUR world. We will have heaps of fun and the whole school will be oozing with creativity, but the outcome will be very serious as we pledge to make lasting changes in our lives to make the world a better place.

Nov 24 / 12:50am

Who Follows the Golden Rules?

by GoingGreen

Did You Know? The production of one gold ring generates 20 tons of waste.

Gold mining is without doubt one of the world's dirtiest industries: it uses cyanide, generates heaps of waste, and leaves a long-lasting scar on landscapes and communities.

More than half of all gold comes from indigenous peoples' lands.

In places such as Ghana, Indonesia, the United States, and Peru, gold mining operations have displaced people from their homelands against their will, destroyed traditional livelihoods, and damaged ecosystems.  Indigenous people in particular disproportionately suffer the negative effects of gold mining, adding to the injustices they already endure.

The the gold you buy could come from a mine that dumps toxic waste in rivers, violates workers' rights, digs up wilderness areas, or evicts communities under the threat of violence. Do you really want to Go Green? Then DON'T BUY GOLD - unless the jewellery store can prove that it ONLY buys gold from responsible sources that follow the Golden Rules set out by Earthworks

Alternatively, why don't you:

  • Recycle old jewellery. You can have old rings melted down to make new ones. Support jewellers that offer products made with recycled gold.
  • Buy vintage or antique jewellery.
As consumers, shouldn't we be more responsible about what we buy and the impact it has on our world?

 

   
Click here to download:
Who_Follows_the_Golden_Rules_t.zip (164 KB)

Filed under  //  consumers   gold  

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Nov 16 / 5:21am

Climate Change Conference

by GoingGreen
Climate change is making life more difficult – and dangerous – for millions of poor people. At a landmark meeting in Copenhagen this December, world leaders have their best chance yet to build a safer future for us all.

Climate change is happening, right now. And it’s the world’s poorest people – those least responsible for causing it – who are paying the heaviest price. Climate change is making extreme weather events like floods more frequent and intense. It’s playing havoc with traditional farming seasons, causing crops to fail and animals to die. In short, it’s making life even more of a struggle for millions of people.

The UN climate change conference in Copenhagen is the time and place to strike a fair and safe deal. It’s no exaggeration to say that the outcome of Copenhagen will affect everyone on the planet. Future generations will live with the consequences of decisions taken at this meeting. With the right deal signed and sealed at Copenhagen, the world will be able to emit a giant sigh of relief. And the future will look a lot brighter. For all of us.

What the world needs from Copenhagen

Action:

 A commitment to a rapid and significant reduction of greenhouse gases, with rich nations reducing emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.

Cash: $150bn must be made available for poor countries to adapt to the immediate impact of climate change and to develop in a sustainable way.

Justice: Rich countries must take most responsibility for the problem they did most to create.

Let's hope our world leaders make the right choices.

Oxfam 2009

Check out more climate change info from Oxfam.
Filed under  //  climate change  

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Nov 12 / 12:01am

Switch Your Lightbulbs

by GoingGreen

Check out the video below. "CFL Lightbulbs in Plain English" introduces the benefits of using compact fluorescent light bulbs. The video focuses on saving money and reducing pollution by switching to bulbs that use less electricity. The video includes:

  • The connection between using electricity and burning coal
  • Cost savings of using a CFL compared to a normal bulb
  • How switching to CFLs can reduce CO2 emissions
  • Proper disposal of CFL lightbulbs, which contain mercury

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Oct 29 / 7:51am

Melting ice caps

by GoingGreen

Fact 1: Our use of energy pumps carbon in to the atmosphere. 

Fact 2: This causes Global Warning

Fact 3: As a result, the polar ice caps are melting

Why is this a problem?

First, it will raise sea levels. There are 5,773,000 cubic miles of water in ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snow. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, if all glaciers melted today the seas would rise about 230 feet. Luckily, that’s not going to happen all in one go! But sea levels will rise.

Second, melting ice caps will throw the global ecosystem out of balance. The ice caps are fresh water, and when they melt they will desalinate the ocean,(make it less salty). The desalinisation of the gulf current will seriously affect ocean currents, which regulate temperatures. 

Third, temperature rises and changing landscapes in the arctic circle will endanger several species of animals. Few will survive.

Fourth, global warming could get much worse when the ice caps are gone. Ice caps are white, and reflect sunlight, much of which is reflected back into space. If the ice caps melt, the only reflector is the ocean. Darker colors absorb sunlight, further warming the Earth.

Reduce energy consumption now, which includes consuming less & driving less. Make it a priority.

   
Click here to download:
Melting_ice_caps.zip (68 KB)

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Oct 28 / 7:52pm

Climate Change

by GoingGreen
Thought you might like this short video about how climate change is already affecting people's lives.

Interestingly, this was entirely shot on a digital SLR (interesting for some people anyway!)


Filed under  //  climate change  

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Oct 24 / 7:51pm

350

by GoingGreen
350 is a very magic number. What is it? Watch this video for a quick introduction. 

This weekend, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis. 

Don't forget what you learned during Activity Week. You can make a difference. What are you doing to reduce carbon emissions? 


Filed under  //  carbon   climate change  

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Oct 17 / 4:52pm

World Hunger Day

by GoingGreen
Did you know that every 6 seconds a child dies of hunger?  And there are an estimated 1 billion starving people in the world? 

This may seem to have little to do with us, but we are partly to blame for these shocking statistics. Hunger is rarely caused by nature, but by the actions of wealthy nations. Developed countries are ridding many regions in the world of their land - the growing of biofuels has displaced food crops, mining has destroyed land and the exploitation of other natural resources has forced displacement of people & forced them in to poverty.  All because we are consuming more and demand cheaper products. According to ActionAid's latest report, Hunger Free, "Hunger begins with inequality and grows because of perverse policies that treat food purely as a commodity, not a right." 

But what can we do? Well, start by watching the video below. Then send the link to everyone you know. Then consider donating some money - it doesn't have to be much...whatever you can easily afford. You'll feel good afterwards.  Think about what you buy - do you really need it? Try to cut down on unnecessary consuming. 

You could also play the game Free Rice at http://www.freerice.com/.

You CAN make a difference.


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Oct 16 / 11:51pm

More Parade Photos

by GoingGreen
Thanks Erica for sending in your pictures from the parade...

                                       
Click here to download:
More_Parade_Photos.zip (2090 KB)

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Oct 16 / 8:40pm

Parade Video

by GoingGreen
Our Friday morning parade was heaps of fun. Didn't you just love those recycled costumes & theme-based outfits? Here's a short video clip in case you missed it.  

Music Credit: The 3 R's - Jack Johnson

(download)

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Oct 15 / 11:21pm

6R's Fab Friday

Posted by email 

This morning we took part in the wonderful finale to Going Green week; the parade.  Dressed as environmental superheroes, we flew around the infant playground and pulled our best superhero moves on the catwalk. 

Later in the day we 'ka powed' our way into the Year 5 shared area where we picked up some useful tips about how to be good eco- tourists (as well as a few sea urchins!).  Also, we all made a promise about one thing we will do in the future to help the environment.

After a fantastic week, we are all ready for a relaxing break from school BUT we will never take a break from being environmental superheroes!

 

         
Click here to download:
6Rs_Fab_Fridaytag_Year_6.zip (17450 KB)

Filed under  //  Year 6  

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