Chance for schools to shout about climate change

Photo opportunity
Time: 10:00
Date: Weds 29 June
Location: National Museum of Wales , Cathays Park , Cardiff

Twenty secondary school pupils from Cardiff will be shouting about climate change today at an event at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. They will be exploring the issue of climate change through drama and expressing their views in a rap workshop with two Cardiff rappers, Captain Kieran and Jason Dregs.

The event is being held to launch a new free resource pack about climate change for teachers of Key Stage 3 and youth workers, published today by Friends of the Earth. The 'Shout about' pack will support a special climate change week, for 11-13 year olds, which this year will run from 7-11 November 2005. The Shout about pack is also available in Welsh from Friends of the Earth Cymru as 'Codwch Lais: Newid Hinsawdd'.

The 'Shout about climate change' pack, which fits with the National Curriculum, contains booklets and information, key facts, lesson plans and ideas for activities. Topics can be studied as a series of lessons for teachers of Citizenship, PSHE, Geography, Science, Maths, English and Art; for youth club meetings; or as part of an organised themed day or the 'Shout about climate change' week.

Naomi Luhde-Thompson of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"We've had some great feedback from teachers who have reviewed the pack for us. They have said that the pack is easy to use, fits the age group and National Curriculum requirements and the activities are easily adaptable to different levels of difficulty. We've also had demand for Welsh language materials and we are delighted to be able to offer such high quality resources for use in Welsh language schools.

"We hope that the pack will get young people interested in climate change, as they are the generation who will be most affected. We really need to start reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next ten years and continue for decades, if disaster is to be averted."

Danielle Cowell of the National Museum and Galleries of Wales commented,

"We recently held a theme on global warming at the museum. It's such an important issue. People need to understand what they can do to reduce climate change and what is predicted for the future. The Shout About pack will help people to understand."

Researchers at the University of Bangor have predicted that as the climate changes, there may be no snow on Snowdon at winter time in the future. However, it is not just the UK which will be affected. Friends of the Earth has asked young people from other countries what they think about climate change.

Temba Tsheri Sherpa from Nepal , who in 2001 aged 16, was the youngest to climb Everest. In November 2004 he joined campaigners from Friends of the Earth in calling for UNESCO to place Everest National Park (Sagarmatha National Park ) on the World Heritage Danger List because of climate change. The melting of Himalayan glaciers as a result of climate change has swollen the Himalayan lakes, increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding. He said:

"Everest is the pride of the nation, but more than this, it is a gift to the world. Lake Tsho-Ipa has formed near the area where I come from. Local people live in fear that the lake will burst."

The Shout about pack covers four topics that can be used as an introduction to climate change and its potential impact on the world.