Sorry for the inconvenience but we had some technical difficulties lately but I’m pleased to say we are back online! And just in time for another update!
We are still busy with making/gathering more Eco-Bricks so if you want to get involved just give us a shout. So here are our latest numbers:
We have once again received a whole box of EcoBricks, 17 to be exact. That, along with the other 4 EcoBricks that we have we can now add a total of 21 bricks to the tally. We are so fortunate that it keeps coming!
You will also be glad to hear that we have consulted the architect and we started with the rough draft layout of the school. We paced out the wall and marked(or should I say re-marked the area where we are planning to build the EcoBrick arch.
If you want to get involved just let us know via Facebook or visit our Challenge page here for more info.
We are so happy that people are active participants in this challenge, and to prove we are not just accepting EcoBricks but also make them we have 5 more bottles to add to the count. Five might not sound like a lot but if you are an active stuffer you will know how much plastic a 2-litre bottle can take and it’s not that easy to fill it up if you pack it tightly. Since our last update, we have also received 25 bottles from you, the public.
We started planning on the entrance of the school, which for those of you who don’t know will be an eco-arch built out of all the Eco-bricks that were made and donated by you, the community that cares enough to make a difference in this world. We have measured out and traced our steps trying to best make use of the Eco-bricks. Below are some of the photos we took while we were planning. If you still need to donate your bricks please get in touch with us, swing by the challenge page (yes the challenge is still going).
See, we didn’t forget and surely didn’t waste all of those donations, it’s just a long road. We are doing things slowly, but we believe good things take time. So please do not stop with all your great help in making the Eco-arch a reality. We can never have too many bricks, see here how many we currently have. If we finish the arch and we have left they will go into making playground objects or a tactile wall, anything to make our world a better place by using all of your donations. So please don’t stop! If you need bottles we have collected a lot we need help to fill them all. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make them.
I never really stopped to think about it but how our faith is involved in this manner. Today I want to bring light on this subject. I just saw a video prayer from Rev. Susan Hendershot leading the Interfaith Earth Day Climate Prayer. It was very nice to see, I don’t know about your church but I cannot recall a prayer specifically direct at Climate Change like this one in mine. I think it’s time we all start putting this in our prayers, shouldn’t faith be playing a more active role in our lives and how we choose to tackle this issue?
I don’t wish to brag, but I am quite proud of this. It’s not really a difficult quiz and I don’t believe that they are meant to be difficult. I feel that we all need to be more aware of our surroundings and what we can do for the lovely blue marble we call home. I believe that conservation education is one gap that we need to fill starting at the foundation(phase).
To be honest, I am not even sure how many of you read these posts but I do hope that you, the person reading this very line, do try and make a difference where you can. Change doesn’t have to be big it just needs to happen. One of my favourite saying/quotes, which I’m not even sure where it comes from is something along the lines of, if you make a little change and the person next to you makes a little change then there will be a lot of people making little change that will end up making a big difference.
There are more quizzes available on earthday.org’s website here.
And here is the second post in the series! Today I’m focussing on the Citizen Science Initiative called Earth Day Challenge 2020. I only became aware of this Challenge yesterday (24/03/2021), so I thought I’ll share this with all of you. If you are like me (and the rest of the MBP family) and would like to make a change in your community, why not join this challenge?
So what is the Global Earth Challenge?
In short, it is a coordinated citizen science campaign, using mobile technology. Basically, you’ll collect some data like; air quality, water quality and other things like insect populations. With all of the data, it will provide valuable insight and a platform for a change in policy in the area where the data is collected.
“Using mobile technology and open citizen science data, Global Earth Challenge™ empowers people around the world to help monitor and mitigate threats to environmental and human health in their community.”
www.earthday.org/campaign/global-earth-challenge/
If you want more information please go and visit the website here. Also, we would love to hear how you guys feel about this, so don’t be afraid to start a conversation.
If you missed the previous post please use the button below to view it.
In the spirit of Earth Day, we would like to share some books to inspireand cultivate young minds. Here is a list of books that we (and earthday.org) feel will help to achieve just that.
Infant to 3 years old
Baby Loves Green Energy! by Ruth Spiro
Explore the Earth’s climate with your child and learn how green energy can help protect our planet.
Hello, World! Ocean Life by Jill McDonald
Learn about the ocean’s creatures, big and small, in this colourful book. “Our big blue oceans are full of life. Dive in and take a look!”
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
“When a little bat gets separated from her mother, she learns a big lesson about friendship in the unlikeliest of places.”
Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee
“In this charming picture book, one spunky girl discovered just who like rain – and who doesn’t – as she explores the rainy day habits of the world around her.”
4 to 6 years old
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
A beloved classic by Dr. Seuss, this book explores how one child can make a difference if they speak up and stand up for those who can’t. This must-read book is “timely, playful, and hopeful.”
Wangari’s Tree of Peace by Jeanette Winter
This story is about Goldman Environmental Prize and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai, who set out on a mission to restore her home forests in Kenya.
The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of how the balance and health of an ecosystem were restored when wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park.
Our Community Garden by Barbara Pollak
“This heartfelt story captures the excitement of children getting their hands dirty and learning to nurture living things for the first time.”
Since you might have some olderr kinds in the house here is a list for them too.
7 to 10 years old
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the recycling women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
This inspirational true story shows how one person’s actions can really make a difference in our world.
Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor
Follow Rachel Carson’s journey from a curious young naturalist to an influential female scientist whose work sparked the modern environmental movement.
Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids and A Thousand Turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson
A young girl in a new home works to save the sea turtles on her beach. A Letter to Young Activists from Philippe Cousteau is sure to inspire readers to start a project in their community!
Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser
This colourful and lyrical book illustrates how humans relate to each other and all other living things in Our Big Home of planet Earth.
11 to 13 years old
A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney
Follow a raindrop around the world through the entire water cycle.
The Shark Whisperer: Tristan Hunt and The Sea Guardians by Dr Ellen Prager
A young group of Sea Guardians who can communicate with sharks and other marine life protect animals in the ocean surrounding the Bahamas.
How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch
This book helps us understand the science of climate change from scientists working on the issue.
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling
A young Native American boy travels from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, learning about the landscape as he goes.
13 years and older
We Are The Weather Makers: The Story of Climate Change by Tim Flannery. Adapted for the Generation who will Act on Global Warming by Sally M. Walker
This teen adaptation details the history and current status of climate change.
Eyes Wide Open: Going Behind the Environmental Headlines by Paul Fleischman
This book helps us understand our current environmental issues through real-world scenarios.
Endangered (Ape Quartet) by Eliot Schrefer
A young woman protects Bonobos in the conflict-stricken region in the Congo.
Prodigal Summer: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
This novel covers three stories of people connecting to nature in the Appalachian Mountains.
We found this list on earthday.org‘s webpage here. If you would like to learn more stay posted for the rest of the series and swing by earthday.org for more information.
Follow this series by goinng to the next post below.
Hi, just want to update everyone with regards to the Eco-Brick numbers. If you haven’t seen we are currently standing on 319. It’s been a rough time for all but I want to reassure everyone that we still need your bricks. We have not forgotten about you and we hope you haven’t forgotten about us. Even though the numbers are rising slowly, we don’t believe it is enough. So challenge your friends, company or even your siblings to see who can contribute more. If you are unsure how to make them here is our step-by-step guide.