In the presence of H.E. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the Ambassador of the United States of America and Minister Leo Brincat, 97 students from 20 schools received awards for their outstanding contributions in two ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) programmes run by Nature Trust Malta; YRE (Young Reporters for the Environment ) and LEAF (Learning about Forests).

In the YRE competition, Malta competed with over 15 countries and managed to get 6 awards, 3 of which were 1st place, two second and one third.

The winners received cameras, smartphones and cash gifts as prizes, and will be participating in an international workshop in Cyprus in September.

One of these award winners is Matthew Curmi, Matthew, a student from the Gozo College Boys’ Secondary, obtained first prize as a photographic winner in the 11-14 age group and was given a professional photo-camera. His contribution revolved around the impact of glass on the environment and the need to recycle it.

This is what Matthew said in his report: “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!!!!!

The event was held at the John F. Kennedy memorial. A number of interactive sessions led by officers from the PARKS and Plant Health Directorates, WasteServ and the US Embassy were organised. Data loggers kindly donated by the US Embassy were also used in other hands on sessions led by EkoSkola teachers.

In his introduction speech NTM Executive President Vincent Attard said that, “education for sustainable development has today become important all across the globe. It is the only way to ensure that future generations are more responsible to the way they behave and what our leaders decide.”

He added, “we only have one planet and so far it is clear that all we have done is mess it up be it health, be it poverty, be it social, economically and environmentally. This is one reason why Nature Trust (Malta) is bending backwards to invest into ESD as we want to see our planet improve and our children living a much better life then we.”

“By promoting EkoSkola and its parallel programmes YRE and LEAF we are in a way empowering our children to act responsibly. Thanks to the support of our Partners – Ministry of Education and Employment, Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Eco Gozo, WasteServ, HSBC we are meeting the challenges. Furthermore organisations such as the US Embassy, GO and Wrigley are helping us reward those that are already working to bring about an informed change, said Vincent Attard.”

The Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Leo Brincat, in his concluding speech, said that, “it is appropriate that we are meeting here today in a Grove dedicated to US President John F Kennedy. He had once said that – our most common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We breathe the same air. And we all cherish our children’s future.”

He concluded, “while praising all leaders on the global stage who are trying to make good on their environmental promises, allow me to show my Government’s and my personal appreciation of how US President Obama is building a real legacy on global warming and environmental protection despite resistance from powerful lobbies that still refuse to accept that climate change is even occurring. His recent power plant regulations are possibly the most important US environmental initiative in four decades.”

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