Students from the Eco-Teens group in Indonesia use compost from local
rubbish and seeds gathered in local forests to replant deforested areas. Each member of the group takes a seed, plants it in a poly-bag and cares for it like a pet! Once the seed has grown and is ready to move, they plant it out in a community where there are not many trees. Then, they start all over again with a new seed.
e- mail: p_risa@hotmail.com
‘Think locally’ is the rallying call for a group of young Kenyans. Planting trees, collecting garbage, surveying plants and wildlife in the nearby mountains – this group does not believe in waiting for things to
happen. ‘We plant trees, conserve wildlife and educate people’, says Anthony Kaiseiyie, 16. ‘The rains last year swept soil to the ocean. Planting trees and cover crops like sweet potatoes cuts down soil loss.’
e-mail:k97sw01@kzoo.edu
Forty scuba divers from all over the Philippines organised a clean-up
programme for the reefs in Batangas, south of Manila. “Kids for the Reef” drew young people into the project collecting waste along the shoreline. The programme made young people aware of how fragile Philippine reefs are. Of 500 known coral species, 400 are found in the Philippines. That’s 400 good reasons to get involved!
e-mail: byte@planet.net.ph
Essau Lower school in the Gambia has a group of 13 to 14-year-old boys who collect used batteries and move them to a safe site. “We realised that batteries were being dumped all over,” said one of them. “Young
people are not aware of the health dangers they bring. We are extending this new project to many schools and
eventually the whole area.”
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The Khoslo Nature Club from Trashigang organised a plastic
collection competition to raise
awareness of the fact that 4800 pieces of plastic are thrown away each month by their small
community of 800 people. The sacks of plastic were put on display to the public and prizes were awarded to the students. It’s great! We don’t see nearly as much plastic around now, and nearly everyone goes shopping with a cloth bag.
Trashigang, Bhutan
In the Sultanate of Oman, the “Green Beans” a local youth environmental group, have been working so hard it’s a wonder they have time for their studies! “We raise money by organising sales and after school movie shows”, says Hassan Al Saleh, 17. Hassan told us the money is used to buy acres of rain forest and adopt endangered
animals. Twice a year, the Green Beans hold a beach clean-up. “We have come a long way in raising awareness in and out of school. If we all work together, we can make this world a better place.”
Amy Saunders, 19, from Scotland, UK, is developing a website for young people on
global issues. “Planet Xpress is a place to meet people from all over the world, exchange ideas and take positive action,” says Amy. “It is run by and for young people. We need more young contributors, web-designers, out-reachers and co-ordinators. Please get in touch!
website:www.planetxpress.org
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