Photos

Why so Happy?

submitted by Eco-Centre Zejtun : Johann Camilleri  for 19-25
dissemination(s): Facebook, other, website
filed under Photos

Environmental vandalism has been going on for ages. There are different types of environmental vandalism such us littering, poisoning seas and rivers, unsustainable fishing and hunting, snapping branches, uprooting of trees and plants out of the ground, spilling of oil and tar in the countryside and destruction of rubble walls leading to soil erosion. An enjoyable stroll in the countryside can be spoilt by eyesores such as bulky refuse, broken plants and vandalism on trees. More awareness should be raised as to how to report such vandalism. We must not be afraid to be the voice of our environment. As Pope Francis said, “Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will… Creation is a gift so that we care for it and use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude. Safeguard Creation. Because if we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us!”



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Intruder Alert!

submitted by Eco-Centre Zejtun : Johann Camilleri  for 19-25
dissemination(s): Facebook, other, website
filed under Photos

Everyone has a right to have a shelter and a roof on his head. People build their homes and try to make them as comfortable as possible. Mother Earth is a home for many living species, who seem to have been living for thousands of years in harmony with the environment. On the contrary, human beings have neglected and harmed their surroundings and have been also threating the habitat which these species have taken care of. The biggest threat to habitats is human intervention and environmental harm. Pollution and climate change are two of the major problems effecting habitats. According to the WWF, “Scientists predict that a global temperature rise of 2–3°C will result in about 20–30% of the Earth’s species being at risk of extinction”. By using cleaner energy and organic farming, we will be reducing pollution, thus protecting our environment, including habitats and protecting species.



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Short-Sightedness

submitted by Eco-Centre Zejtun : Johann Camilleri  for 19-25
dissemination(s): Facebook, other, website
filed under Photos

Glasses can be used as a remedy for short-sightedness. But what remedies are being offered when we act short-sightedly towards our environment? We tend to be short-sighted where the environment is concerned as we don’t see further than the end of our nose, and we do not reflect on the impact that our actions will have in the long run on mother earth. Environmental problems in today’s society are a hot issue because of the neglect of previous societies who acted short-sightedly towards their environment. Pollution of air, water and soil, global warming and deforestation are among the threats our environment is facing. According to Albert Einstein, “The environment is everything that isn’t me”, so to make a step towards a better environment, we have to look beyond the horizon and think environmental-friendly before we act.



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Bottle me up.

submitted by St Thomas More College Zejtun Primary B : Marija Camilleri  for 7-10
dissemination(s): ilearn and facebook, other
filed under Photos

Waste that we throw away in the environment does not vanish, but returns on our doorsteps. Plastic beverage bottles are an eye sore when we take a stroll along our beaches. These bottles are not biodegradable and according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, they take 450 years to decompose if they are thrown away in landfills or in the environment. Unfortunately, what is thrown into the sea is washed on the shores by waves. If these materials are not picked up and disposed of properly, they will end up back into our sea. It is wiser to reuse them or recycle them as we reduce damage to the environment we live in.



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High Drop!

submitted by Gozo College San Lawrenz Primary : Kian Borg  for 7-10
dissemination(s): Gozo news website, school blog
filed under Photos

Students from Gozo College San Lawrenz Primary went on a walk on the nearby cliffs of Dwejra. Unfortunately, there were amazing amounts of dangers, illegal buildings and pollution from trucks dumping different materials in the country side probably not knowing that taking waste at the civic amenity site is free. One of the dangers is an abondoned disused quarry – unfortunately it is easy for someone to fall inside. The photo shows a very high wall where the building stone was cut in the past. If there was someone walking by there and did not notice that there is a drop right in front of them they would fall in it. Attention authorities – with just a little bit of money the area can be kept safe and clean. Can some barriers and signs warning people to keep away from the quarry be put up?



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Sustainable is Possible!

submitted by Gozo College Victoria Primary : Year 5 Roses  for 7-10
dissemination(s): Facebook, school blog, youtube
filed under Photos

Sustainability? Yes, it’s possible, especially with the help of a group of nine-year-olds from Gozo College Rabat Primary who are highly determined to send this message to the people out there… The year 5 Roses class has decided to do it right this time …take a trip to Marsalforn valley on a fine morning, plant trees, sing the song “Sustainable is Possible” and film it all up! “Do it!” we all sang at the top of our voices, so that our message is a wake-up call to whoever wants the world to be greener, cleaner and a better place to live in. The three Rs and caring for the environment are fundamental to the sustainability of our planet. Let’s get started! A big thanks goes to our teacher and to EkoSkola!!



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A Sense of Sustainable Satisfaction

submitted by St Francis School Cospicua : The Forest Team  for 7-10
dissemination(s): school noticeboard, school media, website
filed under Photos

Trees are of great importance in our lives. Unfortunately throughout these last years in our island, many trees have been destroyed either by human beings capriciously or to make way for any development and also for other reasons. Tiny seeds were planted in the small plastic bottles which within three months they grew in small beautiful plants. We all can contribute in this by planting seeds which by time they will grow in trees. So would you like to be of any help to our society?



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YRE Winner – Photo 11-14yrs: Use and Reuse! Know your boundaries

submitted by Gozo College Boys' Secondary Victoria : Matthew Curmi  for 11-14
dissemination(s): School website and radio programme
filed under Photos

Glass is like a rock, it doesn’t decompose. A bottle that you throw in the field next door may be broken in a hundred pieces, but it will remain as something foreign to this environment. Yet, if recycled it can still be of use to our society. It only takes a minute to place it in a recycling bin. It’s your choice!!!!!



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YRE Winner – Photo 15-18yrs: Bridge over troubled water?

submitted by St Thomas More GSS Santa Lucia : El Kayati Fatima, Farrugia Antonella, Saliba Nicole  for 15-18
dissemination(s): school media
filed under Photos

Malta is one of the countries with the least water resources. Having little rain and a highly populated area means that if the rain water is not used to its best, we will have serious problems in the coming years. At school, the school playground is the roof of a water reservoir. This reservoir needs urgent attention and could be used to water the whole of the school trees and used in the toilets flushing. The reservoir needs maintenance so as it can be used. It is an old structure but since it is at least 100 metres by 50 metres wide and more than a storey high it can hold enough water to satisfy the school’s need for second class water. If this reservoir has more water that the school needs, it could be used to help farmers in the vicinity and use this water instead of pumping water from a borehole. Pumping a lot of water from a borehole will result in a problem since it will be invaded by sea salty water instead of water good for drinking. As students we need to keep the ground clean so as the rubbish will not block the water intakes of the reservoir.



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YRE Winner – Photo 19-21yrs: One Sandwich Short of a Picnic

submitted by Eco-Centre Zejtun : Johann Camilleri  for 19-25
dissemination(s): Facebook, other
filed under Photos

In Europe, about 90 million tonnes of food is wasted annually. According to NSO Malta, on average, 22% of the amount of food purchased weekly by Maltese residents, end up in the solid waste stream. Not only households throw away food, but food is also wasted due to over-production or inadequate storage or packaging. Wiser shopping planning avoids good food being thrown away. Food leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen and used for other meals. Products like bread and vegetables can be given to farmers to feed their animals. Over-ripe fruit can make healthy fresh smoothies or fruit pies, while vegetables make delicious healthy soups instead of bulging our trash bins. Our wise great grandmothers used to turn left over bread into mouth-watering bread puddings. This is more than worthwhile considering that according to the UN Water, to produce 1 slice of bread, 40 litres of water are used up.



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