Kids for Earth

On April 20th 2010, and oil leak was found in the Gulf of Mexico. It started with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform, which killed 11 crew on board the platform, and injured 17 others.

The oil spill happened just 64 kilometres from the coast of Louisiana, and is threatening the livelihoods of many shrimp farmers who live along the coast.

Also, the growing oil slick is threatening many bird species who live along the coast, and some oil dispersing chemicals may be harmful for wildlife in the area.

It is estimated that it will take years for the ocean to recover from the spill; currents may blow it into the Atlantic and a sudden growth in microbes used to consume oil could reduce the oxygen in the water.

Already, oil is hitting the fragile marshlands of Louisiana, and with scientists unable to plug the leak, more is coming.

Climate change week is finally here, happening on the 19th June. Our official Billy the Plastic Bag book will be launched along with the opening of our ‘Bring Kids For Earth to your school’ Workshop. If  you want to take part, contact me at raphaelletseng@kidsforearthasia.com. You have to get a team of 4 or 5 kids from the ages 10 to 15 to come. 19th June is a Saturday and the workshop/launch will start at 11.00am. Hope to see some of you guys there!

Oh yeah, there is also going to be an eco bazaar running throughout most of the day. Kids For Earth will be selling bags and books there.

Krishna Rocks Bal Vihar Camp (Spiritual Camp)

Recently, I and two new recruits, Neerav 12 and Divesh 9, did a presentation on plastic pollution “Billy the Plastic Bag” at our spiritual camp in Eagle Ranch Resort, Port Dickson.   We stammered a bit and even stumbled on words even though we practised every time we had free time and before we went to bed. We did this presentation in front of a small crowd, 63 kids and 15 adults including a very spiritual person.  We started of extremely nervous but as we progressed through the presentation we weren’t so nervous, in fact, we were having a bit of fun. Every presentation counts because in the end everyone thought we were so good that there was a discussion on plastic bags. Hopefully they will stop plastic pollution.

By  Gautam Jethwani                                                                                                               

Suffocation

Infants and young children have died as a result of playing with plastic bags. Every year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission receives about 25 reports of plastic bags-infant death.Because of the thin,airtight material,infants can easily block their mouths and nostrils with the plastic bag and suffocate.

Effects
If not carefully disposed of,plastic bags can be devastating to animal life. “DEFRA”(Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)reported that 1,678,900 tons of plastic bags do not decay easily,they stay in environments longer,causing more build-up up on the nature stay landscape than a more degradable like paper would. The Marrickville Council reports that over 100’000 whales,turtles and birds die every year as a result of plastic in their environment.

Prevention/Solution
Abstaining from plastic bag use as much as possible will reduce the chances of accidental infant death, and it will reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment.

A plastic bag is also reusable,though. it does not necessarily have to be thrown away after a single use. Try to use each plastic bag for as long as possible.
This will help reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation.