In Canada we buy and throw away a lot of stuff. Another way to say this is that we consume a lot of things. Factories and big farms across the world make our clothes, computers, hamburgers, cell phones, televisions, shoes, potato chips and all other things that people across Winnipeg and Canada buy, or consume. Every thing that we buy has needed energy and the earth’s natural resources, like water, plants, fossil fuels, metals and minerals, to make. Most of us in Canada use so much energy and so many natural resources that if everyone on the planet did the same thing, we would need five more planets!
But we don’t have five more planets; we have this one that we need to take care of. How do we start to do that? In Canada, we consume too much of the world’s resources, while in other places in the world people do not have enough to eat or a house to live in. If we start to change our habits of buying and throwing away, we can contribute to making the planet healthier. Changing our habits can also make our bodies healthier, and help those in other places who don’t have enough resources to live on.
Changing habits requires us to think about the choices that we make. If we think twice before making a choice, we can decide whether or not there is a different, more earth-friendly, way of doing it.
The next time you go shopping with friends or your family, think twice about buying new stuff. Make a choice to buy only things you really need. If you are finished with a toy or a game or some clothes, instead of throwing it out, why don’t you see if a friend wants to trade? Or you could donate it to a thrift store. By making choices to buy and throw away less, you are saving natural resources and putting less waste and pollution into the environment.
You can also talk to your family about making choices to buy more foods that are grown locally, which saves the earth’s resources. Maybe you even want to try growing some of your favourite vegetables in a garden this summer!
What other ways can you think of to make earth-friendly buying choices?
Sustainability + You =Buying and throwing away less stuff!
Yes, our students and teachers are making a difference!
Recycle and Win at HEDGES MIDDLE SCHOOL!
Our 2nd annual Recycle and Win contest took place from November 18 until December 11. Every time students were caught recycling or bringing reusable food containers to lunch, they would get a chance to win a prize. The more recycling the more chances to win!
Every Friday during the contest instant prizes were awarded to those who could answer correctly a skill testing recycling question. Below are some statistics from our first contest: - In the 2008-2009 school year we achieved a 2/3 reduction in lunchroom garbage (approximately 50 bags less in the landfill) - Blue bin levels increased by 200% - Drink can tabs collected up by 300% - Plastic shopping bags collected=255 (instead of being put in garbage)
Remember that this was only in ONE month!. To learn more about this initiative, please contact M. Ottenbreit. (January, 2010)
Buy Nothing Day at ECOLE GOLDEN GATE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Buy Nothing Day took place at Ecole Golden Gate Middle School on November 28, 2009.
Instead of recycling students focused on re-using, students got the opportunity to bring in used items during the lunch hour and trade them for other used things. There was a spectrum of books, pencils, clothing, gadgets, video games and more. Many students came by room 32 to check out the treasures. It was fun to see people's smiles when they found something they wanted. Even a few teachers traded too! The Youth in Action students hope to plan another Buy Nothing Day soon. To learn more about this initiative, please contact S. Thompson. (January, 2010)
Toy Swap gave the students of Crestview School the opportunity to recycle their old toys and bring home some toys that will be new to them without spending a dime.
These days children seem to accumulate toys at an astonishing rate. Listening to the students in our school discuss the amount of toys they receive over the holidays, at birthdays, or purchase throughout the year makes you wonder how many of these items they really need. We have had many debates in our classrooms about the difference between the ideas of “want” and “need.” More importantly, we discuss how these toys are manufactured and what happens to them when no one any longer plays with them. After brainstorming, the majority of our students claimed they sold, donated, or sent these toys to our local landfill where, unfortunately, they spend several lifetimes breaking down and never truly disappear from our environment. In response to class discussions, a group of grade four and five students who identify, research, and find logical solutions to a variety of global issues, decided to organize a Toy Swap.
We had a high level of student participation and our Green Team look forward to organizing another Toy Swap in the near future.
Here are some tips about organizing a Toy Swap within your own school or organization.
Create rules for your toy swap. State in the rules that the toys must be in clean and working condition. You may also state that participants will be able to take home as many new toys as they bring in to recycle.
Get the word out. Create a flyer or note in both a newsletter and online to inform the community of the rules. Include a toy drop off date so you will be able to inspect and organize the toys before the actual event.
Collect toys and make sure they are clean and in working condition. Record the numbers of toys dropped off by each person to ensure everyone is swapping fairly. Organize the toys by age and type.
Swap toys. Participants browse through the assortment of recycled toys and choose as many toys as they have brought in.
Clean up. Not all toy swap participants will take their full amount, Donate any leftover toys to local charities.
To learn more about this initiative, please contact Sandra Simpson, Principal of Crestview School. (2009)
We are excited about the Sustainable Living program being implemented throughout the school division. Its aim is to further SJASD’s principles and to challenge students and staff to explore activities and learn about conserving resources, protecting the environment, and ensuring human health and welfare through education about the consequences of our actions and our responsibilities to each other and to the planet.
