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In recent years there has been a
significant rise in people's concern for the environment.
For all of us, a safe environment is essential to our quality
of life - the quality of the air we breathe, the water we
drink and the land on which we live and work.
The problems that exist are far
reaching, and effective protection of the environment requires
activity on many wide-ranging different fronts. We need
to act to limit global environmental threats (such as global
warming) as well as ensuring we safeguard individuals from
the effects of poor air quality or toxic chemicals.
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Eco
Schools is a type of environmental management
system for schools. It is a programme for promoting environmental
awareness in a way that links to many curriculum subjects,
including citizenship, personal, social and health education
(PSHE) and education for sustainable development. It is
also an award scheme that will raise the profile of your
school in the wider community
Free material for schools aimed at helping young people
understand the principles of sustainable development in
a fun a stimulating way are available through the Resources
section of the Green
Code website
The
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website
has information and materials suitable for students aged
12-16 on the subject of climate change.
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1) Energy - gas and electricity
- used in the home is responsible for 25% of the UK's carbon
dioxide emissions.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that
is produced when gas is burned or electricity is generated.
It is a major contributor to global warming (climate change).
Improved energy efficiency, therefore, helps to improve
the quality of housing, helping to bring warmer, healthier
homes to old and vulnerable people living in fuel poverty.
Everyone can play a role in helping to
reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate
change. An easy example is that when shopping consumers
can choose to buy appliances that are the most energy efficient.
Also we can work to ensure that our homes
are not wasting energy, as this can contribute unnecessarily
to climate change. We need to make sure that we are not
generating more energy (and more damaging gases) than is
really necessary.
By being energy efficient we can therefore
reduce the need for power stations and cut the damage inflicted.
One quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions every year
originates from the energy we use to heat and light our
homes, and to run an increasing number of household appliances.
The DETR produces an
Energy saving leaflet that contains useful
and practical information on this subject.
2) Water is essential for natural
life and for human use. We all use it everyday in our homes
and gardens, in commerce and industry, and in agriculture.
The way in which water is used has a direct impact on the
natural environment and it is important for us to realize
that water needs to be managed in order to protect the long
term future of the environment.
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The Understanding
Energy Education Service produces a wide range
of resources about different areas of energy efficiency
and the environment, as well as information on power generation
and uses of
electricity. Many of these resources are available free
of charge.
The Department
of Trade and Industry have produced their Renewable
Energy Trail and it is suitable for school children aged
12-16. The pack includes information for teachers and students
can be awarded a certificate from the 'Energy Lords' if
they complete their trail successfully.
The Energy
Chest website includes basic information on
energy and its use, curriculum activities, notes for teachers
and a library of links to other energy and environmental
sites.
Test what your students know about energy and saving energy.
The Go
Wild website has a quiz/questionnaire as well
information about where and how energy is used in schools,
presented in a classroom-friendly way.
When considering different energy sources, you may also
wish to discuss different areas of gas and electrical safety
with your students.
The Understanding Energy Education
Service produces a wide range of resources about different
areas of electrical and gas safety as well as other areas
of safety around the home. Many of these resources are available
free of charge and further information can be found on their
website at www.energy.org.uk.
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Every year tonnes of household waste
are produced across the country and approx 80% of this is
disposed of at landfill sites. Managing this waste costs
local councils millions of pounds every year and it is estimated
that the amount of domestic rubbish we generate increases
by around 3% per year.
We are now throwing away more rubbish than ever before and
are running out of places to put it. Most of our rubbish
is buried in the ground, in 'landfill' sites, but these
are filling up fast and new ones are hard to find. Costs
for disposal are increasing and at current rates of filling,
the amount of space we have available could run out within
20 years.
We all need to try and reduce the amount of rubbish created
and this will require a change not only in how we deal with
waste, but also in how much waste we produce at home and
at work.
There are several ways in which we can
help to reduce waste including Recycling, Reducing waste
and Composting
BUT one way in which we can all help
is by:
All consumers can try and be smart
shoppers, in order to try and help cut down on the amount
of rubbish we create in the first place. It's not difficult,
it doesn't take any extra time and it can make a very big
difference.
- Remember to take bags with you when you do the 'weekly
'shop.
- If you are visiting more than one shop, do you need
to take a new bag from each?
- Strong re-usable bags are also on sale in most supermarkets.
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The Energy
Chest website includes basic information on
reducing waste, curriculum activities, notes for teachers
and a library of links to other energy and environmental
sites.
Why not run the Bring,
Bring project at your School? This project is
being run from Oxfam and is designed to make pupils think
about how recycling (in this case mobile phones) can help
people and the environment.
The Oxfam
website also contains other useful resources
for children aged 13 and over.
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Animals are an important part of
our world. They need to be looked after and cared for as
they play a large role in our environment.
We all have a part to play in trying
to ensure that nonhuman animals can live according to their
own natures, free from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Animal disease on farms causes
a lot of suffering. It can ruin individual farmers as well
as threaten local communities, effect national economies
and inflict problems internationally.
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The Compassion in World Farming
Trust has developed a video and teaching pack designed to
stimulate discussion about farm animal welfare and genetic
engineering with KS 4 pupils. The Trust also offers a Farm
Animal Welfare Schools Speaker Service and further details
can be found on the CIWF
website
The RSPCA aims to promote kindness and prevent cruelty to
animals. The Society's education service plays a leading
role by providing and supporting animal welfare education
for students and teachers across the Country. Further information
can be found on the RSPCA's
website
The National
Canine Defence League (NCDL) have developed
FREE curriculum based resources on their Teachers' pages.
PETA
3&4
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