Archived press release

Local school shouts about climate change

16 January 2006

Pupils from the Greenhill School in Pembrokeshire have scooped first prize in a national poster competition run by Friends of the Earth on the theme `what can we do about climate change?'

The competition formed part of Friends of the Earth's `Shout about Climate Change' week, held in November last year. 1800 teachers and youth workers signed up to take part in the week which aims to get young people interested and active on climate change.

Dionne Stewart, Keely Edwards, Luke Hughes and John Edwards, all aged 15, designed the winning poster using recycled and sustainable materials such as plastic bags, paint and paper. The poster, which was inspired by recent floods, featured wellington boots under the slogan. `The ice caps are melting - how long can you tread water?'

Tammy Dibble, a youth worker at the school said: "We are delighted to have won competition. The pupils at our school will be part of the generation most affected by climate change.

That's why it's so important they understand the problem and what actions governments and individual's can take to combat it.

The `Shout about Climate Change' Week helped us explore the issues with them in a fun and engaging way."

Lucky winners will have the opportunity to talk about their work and the climate with Nick Ainger, their local MP and Elliot Morley, Minister of State for Climate Change and the Environment at a special event in the House of Commons on Tuesday 17th January.

Mr Morley said: "I have been very pleased by the excellent response to Friends of the Earth's `Shout About Climate Change' week. Tomorrow's climate is today's challenge for us all. It is vital that everyone plays their part in tackling climate change - one of the greatest threats to our children and our children's children."

As well as the competition pupils were encouraged to get involved in a range of activities from designing eco-cars and running energy audits on their school to performing plays and producing videos about climate change.

Friends of the Earth's education coordinator, Vicki Felgate, said: "With so much enthusiasm being shown throughout the schools, both teachers and students are certainly demonstrating that they are not only concerned about climate change but are ready to do something about it."

Notes

Pictures will be available from the event on 17th January

The `Shout about climate change' pack, published by Friends of the Earth, is a free resource for teachers.

It contains a DVD with visual resources in addition to key facts, ideas for lesson plans, assemblies and activities such as how to design an eco car, a climate quiz or role play. The pack links to the National Curriculum and topics can be studied as a series of lessons for teachers of Citizenship, PSHE, Geography, Science, Maths, English and Art.

Teachers and youth workers can sign up for a free pack on www.foe.co.uk/learning/educators/ or call Friends of the Earth on 020 7490 1555.

Around 1,500 schools have requested Friends of the Earth's 'Shout about climate change' pack and hundreds signed up to take part in the `Shout about climate change' poster design competition.

In May 2005 Friends of the Earth launched a new multi-media climate change campaign, The Big Ask which calls on the UK government to take action to combat climate change www.thebigask.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust