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Earth Hour - March 27, 2010 - 8:30-9:30 p.m. Green Matters Essay Contest (Deadline April 1, 2010) Eco Kids Earth Day Challenge (Deadline April 30, 2010) |
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NEW!
Earth Hour 2010
March 27 - 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
The City of Fredericton is committed to being an environmental leader. Our City is already green, but we want to be greener! That is why we are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint, and making this community the most sustainable it can be! We are continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but there is still a lot to accomplish!. Achieving our sustainability goals will be challenging, that is why everyone in the community must help! Even small environmentally friendly changes in your life can have a big impact as we try to reduce our City’s carbon footprint.
An energy-free evening of activities and unplugged entertainment will be held at the Boyce Farmers Market on March 27 as the city goes off the grid for 60 minutes during the third annual global climate change awareness initiative known as Earth Hour.
“Cities, towns and villages all over the world will be turning off their lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 27 to show their support for action on climate change,” said Councillor Scott McConaghy, chair of the City’s Public Safety & Environment Committee. “We are proud to show our on-going commitment to a more sustainable community by participating in Earth Hour once again.”
Everyone is invited to the Boyce market on George Street for an Earth Hour celebration from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The energy-free event will feature the “unplugged” sounds of the Downtown Blues Band, Peter Hicks of Sleepy Driver and Reverend Karl. The fun will continue with the Hula Hoop Entertainers and a performance by Perley the Magician. Information booths will be on display to allow participants to learn about climate change and the environment. Catering is being provided by the The Bundle Hunt and beverages will be provided by Coburn’s and the Blueberry Growers Association of New Brunswick.
The Boyce Market celebration is hosted by the Climate Change Youth Engagement Network in partnership with the City of Fredericton’s Green Matters Campaign, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and the NB Department of the Environment.
Science East is also planning to celebrate Earth Hour by setting up their planetarium at the Regent Mall for a free show from 1-4 p.m. on March 27.
Residents and businesses alike are being encouraged to participate. Businesses are asked to turn off all external lighting, including signs, and as many lights internally as safely possible for the hour. Residents are encouraged to not only turn off all non-essential lights but go a little further by turning off all electronic appliances for the hour.
“We want to hear from businesses and individuals what they are doing to mark Earth Hour,” said Coun. McConaghy. “You can tell us your plans and find out more information by emailing Green Matters.
Earth Hour is a global World Wildlife Fund (WWF) climate change initiative. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when two million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, participation swelled to hundreds of millions as 4,159 cities, towns and municipalities in 88 countries and many of the world’s best known landmarks participated.
Fredericton has been designated a Flagship City by the WWF for Earth Hour 2010 in recognition of the City of Fredericton’s past support for the global climate change awareness initiative and for its on-going commitment to the environment.
2010 Green Matters Essay Contest
The topic of the essay contest is:
MAKE THE CHANGE: @Home, @School, and @Play!
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mohandas K. Gandhi
That famous quote by Gandhi has inspired generations to go out and change the world around them. Children and youth are eager to learn, and to convey to others the knowledge they acquire. They have great ideas and are excited when those ideas evolve into action.
In 2008 we asked essay writers to tell us why green really matters in our community, and why being environmentally conscious is so important. Last year, we followed up, by asking students to draft a letter to the Prime Minister, encouraging him to make changes that will make our country a more sustainable place to live.
This year, we are giving students the opportunity to encourage change themselves, by telling us what they would do to make changes in their homes, at school, and at play. This year’s contest focuses on how children and youth would change their home, school, or community, if they were given the opportunity. We want to know what projects, events or activities they would set into motion to create the greatest positive, long-term change for our environment.
So students, what would you do? Put solar panels on the roof of your school to generate energy? Plant more trees to suck in carbon dioxide? Have mandatory anti-idling zones in your school and neighborhood? Start a litterless lunch program at your school? There are no boundaries so dream your green dream and tell us about it!
For inspiration and ideas, check out these useful websites:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/kids/
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/
We encourage educators to use this opportunity to talk to your students about the environment. If you are looking for more information or resources that include discussion topics that align with curriculum, please email greenmatters@fredericton.ca. This is an excellent chance to get your students writing about their hopes and dreams for a greener future.
Eligibility
There are four categories: Elementary school (K-2); Elementary school (3-5); Middle school; and, High school. Eligible students must currently be attending Fredericton area schools (refer to the list below) in Districts 1 and 18.
Prizes
Winning essays will be posted on the Green Matters website at www.greenmattersfredericton.com. The winner in each category will receive a cash prize and a certificate. The breakdown is as follows:
Elementary Grades K-2 Max. 150 words First Prize $200
Elementary Grades 3-5 Max. 250 words First Prize $200
Middle School Max. 750 words First Prize $300
Second Prize $100
High School Max. 1000 words First Prize $500
Second Prize $200
Eligible schools are:
Elementary schools: Barker's Point, Connaught Street, Forest Hill, Garden Creek, Liverpool Street, Marysville, McAdam Avenue, Montgomery Street, Nashwaaksis Memorial, New Maryland, Park Street, Priestman Street, Royal Road, South Devon, and Douglas School
Middle schools: Albert Street, George Street, Devon, and Nashwaaksis
High schools: Leo Hayes High School, Fredericton High School
Francophone schools: École Sainte-Anne and École des Bâtisseurs
Once again, there will be a will be a collection of environment-themed books for the school that submits the most essays, as a percentage of their school population.
So, get writing and have fun!
Deadline
Deadline for all submissions is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2010.
Judging
Entries will be judged for quality of the response.
Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. Time and location is yet to be determined.
Guidelines
Submissions will be accepted in both official languages.
All entries, except in the Elementary K-2 and 3-5 categories, must be typed, and double-spaced. Entries in the K-2 and 3-5 categories, can either be typed or printed/written legibly, and may include a picture.
Please include on the cover page: your name, school, teacher’s name, and teacher’s email address. Your teacher will be contacted in the event your essay is selected.
Class sets of submissions can be made in hard copy to:
Green Matters
PO Box 130, 397 Queen Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y7
We do prefer, however, that you submit essays electronically to greenmatters@fredericton.ca. Electronic submissions must be sent as file attachments in Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF format
