For the review stage we are going to ask you to focus on the theme of Litter and Waste while adding a global dimension to it.
There are 3 essential actions we want you to carry out in order to apply for the Global Citizenship Litter & Waste flag.
1. Conduct a Litter and Waste Audit (to use the template in the application form download it here)
2. Research Nationalities in the school
3. Conduct the Global Citizenship awareness survey (Download the 2012/13 global awareness survey here)
• When carrying out a litter and waste audit in your school the aim is to find out if there are opportunities to reduce your waste even further. You can then also investigate where your waste ends up, where your recyclables go and what they are recycled into and you could look at the whole issue of electronic waste. How do other countries deal with the whole issue of waste management?
• Research the nationalities present in your school, ask – How many pupils are European? How many pupils are from countries in the rest of the world? How many, and which countries do the pupils in your school represent?
Nationality Survey Example
Click here for a sample Nationality Survey designed by the pupils from St. Louis Primary School, Rathmines Co. Dublin. Feel free to use this survey or design one yourself!
Optional, additional, activities you can undertake during your work on the Global Citizenship Litter & Waste theme are:
• Pick an item you use or eat everyday and research it – Where does it come from? What impacts does its production have on the environment and on the people in its country of origin?
• Food - Where does your food come from? Who grew it? What environmental and social impacts does production of your food have in the country of origin? In addition, look at food miles, i.e. how far did the food you eat have to travel to reach your plate? Check out the case study from Elgol Primary School who participates in the Scottish Eco School programme! http://www.ecoschoolsscotland.org/page.asp?pg=100
• Electronic Waste – how does your school dispose of their electronic waste? Have they considered the environment?
• What products are bought most regularly in the school? Think about cleaning products, coffee, tea,sugar, copybooks, paper, pencils, etc. Where are they bought?
• Furniture – Is it made from wood? Can you find out where the wood came from? Did it come from a sustainable forest or did the company who made it cut down rain forests?
• Clothes - Where are the clothes you are wearing made? Who made them? What material are they made from?
• Ethical products – Are they used in the school? If not, could you switch?
Globally – checking out what aid projects your school supports and how much money has been raised for charity in the last school year.
These are a few suggestions to help you get started - but do not be afraid to include your own ideas as well!
Case Study - Tomato
Tomatoes – if bought out of season are generally produced in Holland, they are grown in glasshouses that need to be heated, producing CO2 emissions. They also need to be transported to Ireland increasing the CO2 emissions even more and thus contributing to climate change. Buying local and in-season would be a much better option!