Could you report on the state of the environment? Then An Taisce's contest might be for you, writes Louise Holden.
Every year, all over Europe, students with a flair for writing or photography and an interest in the world we live in take part in the Young Reporters for the Environment competition. Irish students have been taking part too, but this year An Taisce is launching the contest nationwide, inviting every transition-year student in the country to get writing and snapping.
If you're a budding environmentalist waiting for your big break, this is a good place to start. This year's winning story and photograph will be published in The Irish Times and the winning students sent on an international environmental mission next summer.
While you are putting your entry together you will have the opportunity to share your stories and pictures over the Web with other European schools. All of the Irish winners will be put forward to compete in the European competition next year. Interested? Of course you are!
This year An Taisce has outlined four broad themes on which it would like you to base your story or photograph: waste, energy, water and biodiversity. To give you an idea of what you're up against, take a look at last year's Irish Young Reporters for the Environment.
Coláiste Íosagáin, in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, is a green school. This means that, with An Taisce, its students have worked hard to raise awareness of environmental issues, reduce the amount of refuse they send to landfill and increase their recycling and energy efficiency. Since the school adopted the programme, four years ago, the students have organised an environmental fashion show and taken part in the National Spring Clean, among other activities.
Earlier this year three members of the green-school committee, Gráinne de Bhuilde, Banbha Nic Canna and Caoilfhionn Nic Conmara, and their teacher, Fiona Ui Higin, were offered the chance to take their environmental commitment to China, to represent Ireland at a youth forum on the environment.
Their teacher travelled to Beijing to describe the green-school concept to Chinese students. They found that Chinese schools had their own version of the green-school scheme, although the focus was more on education and less on action. This led to much debate about what defines a green school.
Gráinne, Banbha and Caoilfhionn wrote about their Chinese experience and their impressions of the Chinese position on the environment. In their report they said: "As typical newcomers to China and Beijing we had many preconceptions. We had made presumptions of crowded streets, bustling markets and, of course, fabulous cuisine. As soon as we stepped off the plane the environmental issues facing China hit us as immediately as the heat! The Asian Tiger has affected the city with huge problems of smog, traffic congestion and sanitation.
"As we spent more time in China's big cities we noticed that their culture did not have the same emphasis on heritage conservation, as many of their beautiful old buildings are being demolished in favour of new high-rise buildings.
"Unfortunately, after just one busy day spent in Beijing, visiting the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, we were on to Taizhou to attend the forum. We were greeted at the airport by local politicians and then driven to the conference. It was there we were introduced to all the other delegates, most importantly to the Chinese students that had been assigned to accompany us for the duration of the forum. We felt that the Chinese were not as open to discussing environmental problems as other countries and their culture of respect for authority did not consider challenging the political system to change policy for the environment. Many of the Chinese were more intent on promoting China as a prosperous economic power than sharing environmental experiences and learning from each other's mistakes.
"Taizhou is an obvious product of the raging Asian tiger. It is located in the middle of the coastal area of the Zhejiang province. It has not only a picturesque natural landscape and profound cultural intensity but also an advanced economy. With a population of over five million people it is small in comparison to most Chinese cities.
"While in China we noted many environmental issues in dire need of attention. The huge increase in cars and the destruction of nomadic architecture were just two. We were encouraged, however, at the forum by the level of enthusiasm and interest shown by the Chinese to try and tackle these issues.
"This enthusiasm was evident in the highly researched presentations addressing issues such as the recycling of toxic waste, sewage and drainage problems, the promotion of emission-free public transport and the protection of endangered species.
"We finished our trip to China by visiting Hangzhou and Shanghai. The beauty and intensity of Chinese culture and landscape was truly awe inspiring.
"This experience has given us so many new opportunities and opened many exciting doors. We were particularly impressed by a plastic-bottle tax introduced in China that, along with their plastic-bag levy, has increased public awareness greatly while also generating revenue for environmental projects. Chinese innovation with regard to energy production also left us with food for thought, with projects including wind and tidal power working alongside more traditional methods of energy production.
"The environmental knowledge we have gained through this opportunity will never be forgotten, and we are keen to share this with our Irish peers. We hope that we can be a positive influence and encourage others to get involved in environmental conservation, and we look forward to a greener future."
Not many TY students will get the chance to visit Beijing this year. But plenty of Irish environmental issues are waiting to be aired and many striking images to be photographed, right in our own communities, for those with an eye for a good picture or a nose for good story.
The competition is open to all Republic of Ireland students who have completed their Junior Certificate. First register your school as a newsroom by contacting An Taisce at 01-4541786 or yre@antaisce.ie, then get started on your story or shoot. For the rules and some tips from Irish Times journalists and photographers, to give you the edge, visit www.an taisce.org
Animal magic: Another take on the environment
If you haven't been to the zoo since childhood you might carry a dim memory of dingy cages, lethargic creatures and occasional wafts of exotic dung. Dublin Zoo has come a long way since then and, with all the world's best zoos, is playing a critical role in the conservation of animal species in captivity and in the wild.
Curious students are invited to learn more about the role of the zoo in modern conservation through two programmes designed for transition year. The conservation module is aimed at students who are particularly interested in endangered species and their preservation. Modern zoos are concerned not only with preserving species in captivity but also with safeguarding the natural habitats of the animals on display. They do this through education programmes and ecosystem-protection schemes that they help to fund.
The conservation module for transition year starts with a 45-minute presentation on the history of zoos, the role of the modern zoo, endangered species and reintroduction programmes, in which animals born in captivity are released into the wild. It also covers topical conservation issues, such as threats to biodiversity. The lecture is followed by a short "biofact" talk at Dublin Zoo's Discovery Centre.
Armed with all this new information, students are dispatched with trail sheets. To complete the trail sheets they must explore the zoo and its inhabitants with the eye of a scientist rather than a day tripper. The exercise demands a range of skills, such as observation, teamwork, processing of material, problem solving and role playing.
A new module, on environmental awareness, hasjust been launched. The day starts with a lecture on the global environment. Students get an overview of topical environmental issues, looking at the science and the facts behind such eco-threats as global warming and habitat destruction. There is also an introduction to the concepts of biodiversity, environmental scepticism and the ecological footprint.
This lecture is followed by a workshop in which students are invited to calculate individual ecological footprints and discuss ways to improve our sustainability. If students are still hungry for more, they can take a trail sheet and explore Dublin Zoo with a mission to discover more about the animals and the environmental ingredients they need to thrive.
Dublin Zoo's conservation and environmental-awareness modules cost €8 for students; teachers are admitted free. You can get more details from www.dublin zoo.ie or 1890- 923838
