Nature Trust Malta is once again running the Young Reporters for the Environment programme, which sees students carrying out investigations related to sustainable development, and report their findings through photos, videos or articles.
The best entries out of each category have been selected, and will be sent to FEE (Foundation for Environment Education), where they will be competing with 28 countries. The best international winners will be announced on World Environment Day, 5 June.
Special thanks goes to WasteServ and Catch the Drop Campaign for offering prizes for the best entries, and to the Ministry for Education and Employment for supporting the programme this year.
Best entries
Article 11 - 14 years
The Ugly Face of Mount Magħtab - Matthew Cassar, St Aloysius College, Birkirkara
The green/grey bag waste collected by people around my block was monitored for a period of 3 months. The outcomes were used to question the local council, WasteServ and GreenPak about the effectiveness of recycling.
Article 15 - 18 years
Coffee for Equality - Baldacchino Franklyn, Mentosa Jacopo, Fava Ryan and Vella Emerson, St Margaret College, BSS, Verdala
As geography option students we prepared an action plan for this year 2015 was chosen by the EU Commission as 'The Year for Development'. We focused on the issue of waste produced by coffee machines, and the need to promote Fair Trade coffee so as to lessen the inequality that exists between farmers in LEDCs and those in MEDCs. We did so by sending a series of emails to key persons at school, to the owner of the company hiring the coffee vending machine at school and to EU officials working at MEUSAC, the European Commission Representation in Malta and the European Parliament - Information Office in Malta. We hope that through our project more people will start drinking fair trade coffee for equality!
Video 11 - 14 years
Green Culture - Mariah Morgan Ruggier, Raquel Zerafa and Danielle Galea Mascari, St Monica School, Gzira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0lBndA_zqA
The video was taken at the Permaculture Centre in Mgarr and talks about tree planting and composting aiming at a more sustainable and natural way of life.
Video 15 - 18 years
Busy Bees - Carmen Galea, St Thomas More College, SS Tarxien.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OHkWmps6I
This video was shot in May 2014- the official opening of Pembroke Nature and Heritage Park, Malta. This park is the home of hard working bees. These insects are crucial in pollinating different wild flowers and agricultural plants. Moreover, bees produce unique natural products such as honey, propolis and beeswax. Without bees, we would have less fruit and vegetables; thus less food for humans and animals. Bees need to be protected from harmful pesticides. So, organic farming should be the right solution for a better sustainable environment.
Photo 11-14 years
Aren't all citizens conscious and responsible of what they do? - Enya Abela, St Thomas More College, SS, St Lucia
This image explains how some citizens in Zejtun were careless and ignored the sign in front of them saying in the Maltese language 'Jekk joghgbok tarmix hawn' that means please do not throw rubbish here. They were not looking after the environment and were careless enough to fill a street in front of a Play Park with their rubbish and dirt.
Photo 15 - 18 years
If I could reach the other side - Carmen Galea, St Thomas More College, SS Tarxien.
I need to reach the other side; my kids need food. On the other side, I can find something to eat but I need to cross a dangerous road. I am running as fast as I can but suddenly something hit me. Everything is getting darker...my poor children!!
Please call Nature Trust Malta Wildlife Rescue Team on 99999505 to rescue my kids. I also want to appeal to all humans out there. Protect my children-place more hedgehog road crossing signs, use fewer pesticides, dump less litter or adopt a hedgehog by sending an email to [email protected] .
With your help my little children can live longer and may finally cross to the other side.
Photo 19 - 21 years
Short sightedness - Johann Camilleri, Zejtun Eco Centre
Glasses can be used as a remedy for short-sightedness. But what remedies are being offered when we act short-sightedly towards our environment? We tend to be short-sighted where the environment is concerned as we don't see further than the end of our nose, and we do not reflect on the impact that our actions will have in the long run on mother earth. Environmental problems in today's society are a hot issue because of the neglect of previous societies who acted short-sightedly towards their environment. Pollution of air, water and soil, global warming and deforestation are among the threats our environment is facing. According to Albert Einstein, "The environment is everything that isn't me", so to make a step towards a better environment, we have to look beyond the horizon and think environmental-friendly before we act.