World Action - what to do

An idea for your Church

Why not send a letter to the Secretary of your Church property committee with this idea.

One action that churches can take is to invest in electricity-generating technology. The Government is encouraging local churches and other prominent buildings to use 'micro-generation' (solar panels, wind turbines etc) so that they give an example that inspires others to follow suit.

The cost of the technology can be recouped in savings on energy bills over about 15 years. The Department of Trade and Industry's Low carbon buildings programme also provides grants for up to 30% of the cost of buying equipment.

See www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings/funding/lowcarbonbuildings

You can also contact The Methodist Property Office for advice.
E-mail: secretaries@property.methodist.org.uk
Tel: 0161 236 5194

Climate change The most serious environmental threat facing the world today.

How can we make a difference in our World?

How can we become a good global neighbour?

Some suggestions for Activities and Projects you could try:

•  Plant a Tree in your Church Garden

•  Speak to your local council about having a community paper-recycling bin at your church.

•  Invite a speaker from Water Aid to come to your Church to speak to the whole congregation. www.wateraid.org .

•  Take part in operation Noah

•  Become an Eco-congregation

•  Get involved in a local recycling project - contact your local authority for information or visit their website.

Fun things to do and make

Make A Rain Stick

(A good way to recycle paper towel tubes...)

You will need:

• Use one of the following Paper towel rolls, cling film rolls, silver foil roll.
• Tape (any kind of tape you can paint on)
• Sellotape
• Poster paints
• Toothpicks
• White glue
• Rice
• Magazines
• Comics
• Wrapping paper

Put toothpicks through one hole and out another across the roll. The whole idea is to have the toothpicks going in at different angles to make the required sound. Have an adult poke the toothpicks through the holes glue in place and cut off the protruding ends of the toothpicks.

Each child then fills their roll with rice, put a little at a time and have them flip it back and forth so they could hear the "rain" sound (It won't take a lot of rice )

Tape up the other end with paintable tape.

Create a Terrarium

• Plastic 2 litre bottle with cap
• Very sharp scissors or craft knife
• Dirt or potting soil
• Seeds
• Water
• Permanent black marker

Remove the label from the bottle. Save cap!

1. Wash and rinse out the bottle and cap.
2. Cut the bottle close to the bottom. ( about 2'')
3. Place dirt or potting soil in the base.
4. Plant a few seeds in the dirt.
5. Lightly water.
6. Put the cap on the bottle.
7. Cover the base with the top of the bottle. You will have to fiddle with it a bit to fit back inside or outside the base.
8. Place in a sunny spot, water regularly.
9. When the plants are ready, repot them or plant them in the garden.

Make your own Paper

Newspapers, mixing bowls, wooden spoons, water, old sheets or towels, bottle or rolling pin, heavy weights. Paper mould, ( make a wooden frame stretch an old pair of tights across the frame and staple to the edges.)

This could form part of a session about collecting paper for recycling.

You may need to build enough paper moulds for each group of about three to four children / young people to have one.

•  Tear newspaper into small pieces and leave them to soak in water overnight in the mixing bowl.

•  Stir the mixture until it becomes a pulp, adding more water if necessary

•  Press the paper mould into the pulp until it is evenly covered.

•  Drain away any excess liquid

•  Place a towel over the mould, turn it upside down onto a table top and carefully press the pulp onto the towel.

•  Remove the mould.

•  Then place a towel on top of the pulp so you now have one under neath and the other laying on top. And use a bottle or rolling pin to flatten it

•  Now place a heavy weight such as a large book on top of the pulp and leave it overnight.

•  The next time you meet remove the weight, peel away the towel and hang the paper up to dry.

Follow up

•  You could ask the children / young people if they have any suggestions on how you could improve the paper and experiment with this.

•  Use the paper for artwork, collage about recycling

•  Useful web resource www.yptenc.org.uk

Plant a tree or Hedge in your Church Garden

What you need

Spade,

Small Tree or sapling

Ties and stakes

Black plastic sheeting

Compost

Hedging plant

Read up on how to plant a tree or hedge

Hold a discussion about reasons for planting trees, storm damage, destruction of rainforests, how are we dependent upon trees. What are trees used for : Shelter, shade, colour, oxygen, wood.

Select a suitable site for planting your tree or hedge, bearing in mind the size of the tree or hedge when mature. The selection of a suitable site needs careful thought, depth of roots, open space, leaf drop near ponds or drains.

The Woodland Trust www.woodland-trust.org.uk are a useful resource for information about trees.

Operation Noah

Make a splash for climate justice with the churches' climate change campaign!

With Operation Noah you can be part of the solution in three easy steps:

1. Sign the Climate Covenant Sign up online and join the thousands of people who are creating a climate of justice. We will deliver your plea to the government.

•  We ask the UK to lead negotiations.

•  Take action personally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Take action yourself

•  Cut your greenhouse gas emissions by switching to green electricity.

3. Spread the word

•  Get your church and local community on board.

Operation Noah in a nutshell

There are two aspects to Operation Noah:

•  Getting your church or group on board, as a corporate body

•  Getting individual members on board.

You do not have to do both

For further details visit the website www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah/

Why not become an EcoCongregation

www.ecocongregation.org/leaflet2005

An ecumenical environmental toolkit with:

•  Resources

•  Support

•  An award scheme

Encouraging churches to weave creation care into their life and mission

Examples of projects:

St Osmond's Church in Derby set up an aluminium can recycling project to raise awareness of recycling in the local community.

St John the Evangelist Hurst Green gave out low energy light bulbs at a community service.

Zion URC, Northallerton planted 200 hundred trees in the community along the banks of a beck and now work to maintain this area as a wildlife area.

Other Useful Websites

www.recycle-more.co.uk - This site has contact details for local authority schemes, resources and suggestions for activities split into age groups:

5-11yrs and 11-16yrs

www.wastewatch.org.uk

Waste Watch is the leading national organisation promoting and encouraging action on the 3Rs - waste reduction, reuse and recycling. they work with community organisations, local and national government encouraging the environmental benefits of waste minimisation and recycling. They also highlight the positive impact on the economy and wider society.

www.recyclenow.com

Recycle Now want you to recycle more stuff more often. Most people already recycle to some degree and this campaign is designed to encourage everyone to do a bit more. Recycling is easy and your efforts can make a real difference .

Climate Change Links
 
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/index.htm

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/education/index.asp

www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah/

www.globalgang.org.uk/

www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/climatechange/schools/7-11/index.htm

www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/index.html