Archived press release

Winning London School Pupils Meet Environment Minister

3 November 2003

A London school has been selected as the winning entry in Friends of the Earth's first ever `Shout about waste' week for schools. Pupils from Riverston School, in Lee Green, SE12 will perform their winning `waste rap' for Environment Minister Elliot Morley at the Houses of Parliament on Monday 3rd November after their `waste tree' and `waste rap' were chosen as the most innovative entry from the Shout About activities [1].

Friends of the Earth's Shout About week, which runs from 3rd-7th November, is a new initiative aimed at encouraging 11-13 year-olds to get creative on environmental issues. This year pupils are shouting about waste, rubbish and recycling.

More than 1,500 schools and youth groups in England and Wales signed up to take part in the week, receiving a national curriculum-based pack offering ideas for teaching citizenship, living maths, language and science around the subject of waste. Entries included a range of creative activities, from setting up a cardboard and paper recycling scheme in the school to fashion shows and litter picks.

Pupils at Riverston School will perform their waste rap, written by a music pupil, in morning assembly and again for Environment Minister Elliot Morley at the Houses of Parliament on Monday 3rd November at 1.45pm, the first day of Shout About week. Friends of the Earth waste campaigner Anna Watson will speak at the assembly.

The school will also be featured in Friends of the Earth publications and on the new learning website (www.foe.co.uk/learning).

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said:

"I warmly welcome Friends of the Earth's Shout About Waste Week. This seems a very effective way of reaching young people and getting the message across on waste.

"I look forward to seeing the pupils perform their waste rap. If serious issues like waste, rubbish and recycling can be made fun and interesting children will respond positively. Education and awareness raising is key to helping the UK deal with its waste more sustainably. What youngsters learn now will hopefully encourage them to reduce, re-use and recycle in future."

Friends of the Earth Education Officer Karen Sinclair said

"Waste is a great issue for 11-13 year old and Riverston School have shown just how creative people can be with waste, while learning about the environment at the same time. Shout About week is all about pupils developing their own ideas and finding ways to tackle environmental issues in a fun and exciting way. Tomorrow's adults hold the key to turning around our throw-away society."

Notes

[1] The waste rap will be performed at morning assembly at 8.45am on Monday 3^rd November, Riverston School, 63-69 Eltham Road, Lee Green SE12 8UF and then in Committee Room 7 at the House of Commons at 2.15pm.

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