York students speak out to world leaders in Rio - 17 May 2012.
A group of students from The Joseph Rowntree School will be speaking out about the future of children and our planet to world leaders at the Rio +20 Earth Summit in June,
Inspired by the forthcoming global conference in Brazil, the Year 8 students are organising their own event at which they will deliver a powerful speech via video link-up, to be relayed to delegates from countries around the world.
The students, aged 12 and 13, are working alongside a team from the Stockholm
Environment Institute at University of York to stage a celebration of
sustainability on 21 June to coincide with the Rio summit. The Joseph Rowntree
School event, which is aimed at the wider community, is called the 'Jo Rio
Earth Summit' and will emphasise the 'local to global' message about
responsibility for the planet.
The Jo Rio Earth Summit will also be used to launch
a sustainability agenda for all students and staff at the school, which already
has a biomass boiler, a sedum roof and uses a rainwater harvesting system to
flush the toilets.
The students have been working on a project to
communicate sustainability as part of the Good Life Initiative with SEI, which
is facilitating the link to the Rio +20 Summit through its international
network.
Agroup of 20 students has been meeting with the SEI
Good Life team every Wednesday lunchtime to plan the ambitious event, which
students hope will raise awareness of the issues as well as encourage
individuals to change their lifestyles by making personal pledges.
Student Lucy Freer, 13, said, "I want to help
send a message across the world. It's fun to express our ideas and it's great
to be a little part in something big."
"I got involved because I want to make my
future a better place," said Henry-James Hatton, 12. "I want to
choose my future and make it my own. It's not someone else's to make."
Jenni-Rose Ashby, 13, said: "I don't want to
live in a world where I have no resources to be able to live a happy life. I
want to be able to change our ways. I got involved because I want to make a
difference."
The students have invited local residents, VIPs and
dignitaries to the event in June and have also written to Blue Peter, The One
Show and Newsround.
"The students have been so committed and
involved with this," said Assistant Head Teacher Elaine Armstrong, who has
been working with the school group. "It's fantastic to see such a buzz and
to know that these wonderful young people are so willing to put themselves
forward and help make the change."
Steve Cinderby, Deputy Director of the Stockholm
Environment at the University of York, said: "The Good Life Initiative is
working with New Earswick residents to encourage sustainable lifestyles and
we're thrilled at the way the students at the Joseph Rowntree School have risen
to the challenge. We hope they will turnout to be environmental champions by
spreading the message to their peers, their local community – and to the world."
The Jo Rio Earth Summit takes place from 4 to 8pm on
Thursday, 21 June and will also feature debate, drama, music, dance and
entertainment, food and drink and stalls from community groups, local
organisations and companies.
Source:www.sei-international.org
17 May, 2012.