While I like to think
every day is Earth Day, most people tend to get more excited about the environment on especially designated environment days.
At the GIN conference we talked with students at other international schools across East Asia about the environmental projects that have been successful at their schools. Here are just a couple of ideas that I heard about that I think could be
initiated at BISB if a few students
collaborated to make it happen. Yes, some
planning would be required and it will be
challenging. In order to get past some of the obstacles you may encounter you will need to demonstrate
commitment and
perseverance. But you would no doubt be engaging with very pressing
global issues and you will probably gain some
new skills in the process.
Holy cow, that's a lot of learning outcomes!
1. Organize a Meatless Monday or a Vegetarian Biyernes.
- Did you know that the production of meat for human consumption produces a lot of carbon dioxide and methane? Brent can lower its carbon footprint and raise awareness about how individual behavior impacts climate change by limiting meat consumption one day per week. Resources: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/spread-the-movement/
2. Organize a campaign to serve more local and organic snacks in the canteen.
- Banana Q, fresh strawberries, buko shakes! Did you know that eating foods produced locally can also help to lower the carbon footprint of our school? Think of all the gasoline used to transport Pringles from wherever they are made. Consuming locally produced foods may also help to alleviate poverty by supporting local farmers. Resources: http://realfoodchallenge.org/commitment
- Eating healthy would be an additional benefit especially since diabetes is now the 7th leading cause of death in the Philippines!
3. Organize a campaign to set BISB on the path to
ZERO-WASTE.
- Many schools are moving towards making their campuses ZERO-WASTE. Whether it is a reusable water bottle program that really works or looking for better solutions to disposable plates and packaging in the canteen there is always room to improve. Go here to get some inspiration from some of the greenest college campuses: http://www.thedailygreen
4. Organize a program to eliminate the use of disposable plastic cups on campus.
- The International School of Singapore started a water bottle project where students could earn points every time they used their own water bottle and then when they got a certain number of points the environmental club planted a tree in their name.
- What would incentivize Brent students to bring a reusable water bottle every day?
