Blog Tag: Environment
Join the DC Green Cobras!
Posted by Peter MUIR
What will our planet look like in 100 years?
In the best case scenario ocean levels will rise just under one meter, this may not seem like much but it will still be enough to displace over 4 million people. The ocean will warm and acidify as it absorbs a third of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Unchecked climate change will cause draught over about 40% of habitable land.
Have a look at the video to gain some idea of how this will effect people
So what can you do? Listen to the advice given in the video and start at the root! Start with yourself and our school. Join the Green Cobras to make the school a better place!
Students from Year 7-11 are welcome to join the Green Cobras as we are looking for as many members as possible. We are group of students aiming to constantly make DC a greener environment.
We will be setting up an information booth in the G/F foyer from Aug 30 (Wednesday) to Sep 5 (Tuesday) before school. Feel free to ask about our current aims and accomplishments from the past year. Please email 16gassera1@dc.edu.hk if you are interested in joining.
Sincerely,
The Green Cobras
Fact sources (https://www.sciencealert.com/this-is-what-earth-will-look-like-in-100-year )
Be an Advocate for our coral reefs
Posted by Peter MUIR
A message from our CE Captain Ngai Ning Yu, about being an advocate
Coral reefs are more than just a natural beauty; they harbour fish that feed millions and shield us against storms and floods. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on the planet, is dying quickly. As ocean waters steadily warm, extensive coral destruction continues, and coral reefs die. This must be stopped.
The Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. It consists of more than 2,900 smaller reefs and 900 islands and countless species of fish., but we may lose this treasure in as little as a few decades.
Just last year, two-thirds of the reef in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef died, the worst die-off in history.
What could be the problem? Since June of 2014, there have been continuous bleaching in the world caused by high temperatures of water. Therefore, reducing our use of fossil fuels is the only solution. If not, corals reefs as we know them will not exist, and we could single-handedly be responsible for the extinction of an entire ecosystem.
What should you do? Cut down on energy usage and use sustainable alternatives, like walking instead of taking the bus, or turning off power outlets when not in use. These things may seem little, but if everyone does it, huge amounts of energy will be saved altogether. The Nature Conservatory includes more details on taking action to protect our reefs.
What may make a bigger difference, is advocating for others to join you in taking these small steps. Advocacy is promoting a certain event, and this is exactly what we want you to do. Raise awareness about this situation by spreading the word and perhaps organising events too! By having people like you do a little at a time, it can really make a big difference in the bigger picture.
Global Citizen’s Week Long Action Challenge
Posted by Peter MUIR
Here is a message from the organisation Global Citizen, encouraging you to get involved in taking small steps for Earth Day. As they say, small changes can have a big impact.
Earth Day is right around the corner, and there’s a lot you can do to celebrate and protect our planet. The world can’t wait for politicians and business executives to do the right thing. We need to take action ourselves, as Global Citizens, to improve the environment for generations to come.
Sign up for our action challenge to help save the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.
All you have to do is take an action a day, every day for one week. Starting April 22, receive an email a day with the action of the day. Take all seven actions to complete the challenge. When we take action together as Global Citizens, we can help solve the world’s biggest challenges.
Small changes can have a big impact, starting with you.
Earth Day 2017
Posted by Peter MUIR
Did you know that, according to Reader’s Digest, the average American uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water a day?
Or that about 2.03 million tonnes of solid waste was recovered in Hong Kong in 2015; 2% was recycled locally and 98% was exported to the Mainland and other countries for recycling.
And, recently, The European Union (EU) has decided to reduce 20% of its energy consumption by 2020.
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual global event that is celebrated on 22nd April and its purpose is to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day is coming up soon and there are many different ways that you can contribute to reduce our eco-footprint. Click here to be informed with the different activities you can be involved with. It is a matter of getting involved and taking small steps to reduce your impact on what is currently our only home. And then, of course, continue these actions everyday!
Lights Out at DC
Posted by Peter MUIR
Realising that we all have an impact on the health of our planet, and taking steps to try to reduce this impact, is a key element in sustaining our natural environment. According to the World Wildlife Fund, we would need 3.9 Earths if everyone in the world led the lifestyle of Hong Kong people. A part of this is our energy consumption, something that we hope to reduce. Reducing our electricity consumption may also indirectly improve the quality of our air, which seems to be getting worse every year.
For our Community Engagement project, we wanted to see if could make a step towards reducing our school’s energy consumption. Our “Lights Out” initiative aims to reduce our eco-footprint by asking the DC community to turn off lights and electrical appliances that are being used unnecessarily. Though some areas of the school, such as the drama rooms, may not get enough natural light, we feel that we are consuming electricity unnecessarily in many classrooms by using too many lights. Air Conditioners are also often used to a degree that is not required, and projectors are left on when they are not being used.
We ask that from Monday 13th to Friday 17th of March, we turn off as many lights and air conditioners as possible. We hope that laptops that are not being used are on sleep mode, and projectors are only turned on if required. We want all members of the school community to do this during blocks three through to five (10:45am – 1:30pm).
We will measure our electricity consumption during these times, to see how much of a difference turning off unneeded lights and appliances makes.
By getting involved in this project, we hope that students and staff realise that our use of electricity is often wasteful, and that this is harmful to the environment. Hopefully we can bring about change in our day to day electricity consumption habits.
Please support us, and get involved in turing Lights Out!
From Year 10 students Horeb, Skye, Bryant and Horus.
Nature Works Hong Kong 2017 Environmental Innovation and Leadership Program
Posted by Peter MUIR
Nature Works Hong Kong, organized by one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, The Nature Conservancy, is a free program designed to empower students to conceive, test, and launch their own environmental conservation projects in schools and communities across Hong Kong. In the past 3 years, we’ve helped more than 200 students from 50 local and international schools join together to launch 20+ conservation initiatives. The program combines leadership skills training, a network of volunteer advisors from the corporate and non-profit worlds, and a platform from which student teams can raise support for their ideas. It’s a great opportunity for students aged 14-17 who are passionate about the environment and want to take action.
Further information and application details can be found on the event website.
Ark Eden Leadership opportunity
Posted by Peter MUIR
Ark Eden is offering a course to not only develop your knowledge and skills in the areas of permaculture, but also provide you with an opportunity to develop your leadership skills.
The principle component of this year’s project will be to train particpants to manage and lead eco-activities with groups of young children attending Ark Eden Saturday Eco-Camps. The skills that particpants will gain from getting involved in this course include:
- Leadership, management, team work and communication
- Effective teaching and learning methods
- All elements of safety required in transporting and managing groups of young children
- Researching, creating, planning, preparing, time-tabling and logistics for children’s eco-group activities
For more details, click on this link. But be quick – sign up is needed immediately! ark-eden-cas-project-2016-activity-leader-training-for-saturday-eco-camps
ESF Environmental Forum applications
Posted by Peter MUIR
Are you concerned about environmental sustainability?
Are you keen in championing our natural environment?
Well here is you chance to get involved in helping ESF be a more Eco-friendly organisation.
We are looking for a small number of senior secondary students to represent our college in the ESF Student Environment Forum. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to get involved in directing ESF schools to becoming more environmentally friendly, and would provide those involved with great experience in this inter-school initiative.
Those chosen to represent DC will be expected to be active participants in at least once per term meetings to achieve the committee’s goals and facilitate ESF-wide strategy. Naturally, those who apply would need to be enthusiastic about environmental sustainability.
If you are interested, please email Mr Muir ASAP!
DB Beach Clean Ups
Posted by Peter MUIR
DB Green and Plastic Free Seas have set beach cleanup dates are set for the rest of 2016. This presents a good way of getting involved in Community Engagement – however as different year levels have different CE expectations, please check with your learning advisor. Regardless of whether or not you include it in your CE portfolio, get involved!
At each beach cleanup there are experienced leaders to enhance your beach cleanup. Learn more about the local plastic pollution issue as well as understanding the global picture!
Gloves, bags and water refills will be provided.
Please wear closed toe shoes (no flip-flops!), sun protection, bug spray and bring a full reusable water bottle!
Invite your friends and family to join!
Earth Day 2016
Posted by Peter MUIR
Earth Day is approaching (April 22nd), and needless to say, planet Earth needs our love and attention ASAP! What could you do to take action in helping out our planet? Consider some of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, five of which are related to environmental issues: SDG #7- Renewable Energy, #12- Responsible Consumption, #13- Climate Change, #14- Life Below Water, and #15- Life on Land.
A few ideas for Community Engagement include:
Indirect action: Educate others about the quantity of food they throw out and the resulting impact. Host an e-waste recycling drive to decrease the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment when people throw away their electronic equipment
Direct action: take part in a coastal clean-up; orgnaise a tree planting day with Ark Eden
Advocacy: Encourage the HK government to strengthen policies that protect the environment.
Research: Create a report that outlines the impact that our mobile devices have on a particular aspect of the environment
