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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Growing ever greener
ECO WEEK STARTED AS COP26 ENDED, AND FROM LAUNCHING NEW SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES, SUCH AS ‘REUSE AND RECYCLE’, TO MINIMISING OUR FOOD WASTE BY ‘LOVING OUR LEFTOVERS’, NEVER HAS A WEEK AT THE COLLEGE BEEN SO GREEN, SAYS SUE MULHOLLAND
This was the week during which we had the opportunity to find out more about the ‘unseen green’ actions led by our Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the operations team, as well as hearing from many of our pupils who are chipping away with their own climate change campaigns, undertaking small acts that are making a big difference. Peter Milne, founder and director of Target4Green (T4G), hosted several workshops and talks throughout the week and his message was clear: we cannot rely on our politicians to fix this, and what is most hopeful is that it is our young people who are taking the lead. Peter led the Year 12 symposium for JAGS, DC and SSLP pupils, sharing a handwritten letter he had received from Sir David Attenborough thanking him for his work with schools and communities, and sending a message to all young people to act. Keynote speakers Adrian Hayes and Tara Golshan spoke on their experiences trekking to the Arctic, and developing Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots (R&S) programme around the world, a charity that the then prime minister told Tara to give up on, as they were trying to do too much, and it would not work. Fortunately, Tara did not listen, and R&S is thriving in communities all over the world. Given the popularity of the vegan lunch served up on the day, many wondered whether the DC pupil body is ready for a regular meat-free Monday. This was part of the discussion in Climate Change Society’s inaugural ‘Sustainability’ forum. Simon
Yiend, our COO, Will Sales, Head of Catering, and Katy Millis, Head of Procurement and Sustainability, presented on the College’s sustainable actions so far, as well as touching on what is coming next. Food was clearly a big question for the panel, and the pupils also had the opportunity to present their thoughts and ideas on how we can encourage everyone to make good choices. For a personal view on veganism, turn to Francis McCabe’s interview with Zac Broughton in the Alleynian ’s features section. Throughout the week, free learning opportunities abounded. Year 7 had a day being creatively green with their peers from JAGS, in sessions hosted by the Art and DT departments. Among many activities, they worked on making ‘bug hotels’ from recycled materials, including wood from Yinka Illori’s ‘Colour Palace’ (rescued from the Dulwich Picture Gallery). Our Science departments led a day of free learning for JAGS and DC Year 8 pupils, with a focus on plastic production and creating sustainable slime, while Year 9 geographers met architects from Alma-nac, who launched their morning of designing a sustainable future. Peter Milne and T4G were back with Year 10, DUCKS and the Junior School for several learning days and workshops. Year 10 enjoyed presenting their pitches for sustainability and climate change apps, a particular favourite being the food waste app. DUCKS made their own sustainable pledges and Junior School pupils learned about the impact of climate change on children just like them all over the world.
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