Each fall, Diana sponsors a writing competition for students in Halifax Clayton Park.  This year’s topic was:
“What steps can I take to make my family, my school, or my community more environmentally friendly?”

Here are some suggestions from winning entries:

“When we are at home we can turn off the lights after leaving a room.  We can borrow books from the library instead of buying new books.  We can also tell grown-ups (politely) to stop idling the car if we catch them doing it.” Jillian Taylor, Duc d’Anville School

“If you can, avoid the products with the cardboard box, then the Styrofoam, then the bubble wrap and plastic wrap.  If you can’t avoid them, then try to use some of the wrapping again.  You can use boxes for presents, or bubble wrap and Styrofoam pellets for sending breakable objects in the mail.” Christopher Abraham, Duc d’Anville School

“At school put your pop cans and water bottles into a blue bin, they can be made into other metal and plastic things, and as a plus you can get money back if you take them to a bottle return to recycle them!” Catherine MacNeil, Clayton Park Junior High

“By taking small steps together, we can help leaps and bounds, considering this is the only environment we’ve got.  A (…) step I could use is walking or even carpooling instead of driving to school.  All the exhaust fumes from vehicles pollute the air.  By walking to school instead of getting a drive, would help cut down on the chemicals polluting the environment, not to mention great exercise.” Rebecca Davis, Clayton Park Junior High

“Still throwing everything in the garbage can?  Get up to speed by investing in a recycling bin and compost bin.  We’ll all save in the long run.  You can recycle your used paper to save trees, and your compost bin will benefit your garden. 
“There are lots of ways, big and small, that you can help the environment.  All it takes is a good decision." Samantha Burns, Park West School

“Trees are probably the most important factor in our atmosphere.  They are constantly collecting carbon dioxide and transferring it to the oxygen that we breathe.  Without trees we would not be able to survive because of a lack of oxygen.  Approximately 500 km2 or more of Nova Scotia’s forests have clear cut every year since 1992.  In order to conserve our forests, we need to recycle used paper materials.  These materials are reused to make recycled paper and cardboard.  We can also plant more trees to ensure that in a few years we will have forested areas in Nova Scotia.” Emily Burnell, Park West School

“I think that we should recycle more because then there’s not as much waste.  Also, you can get 5 cents for a can or juice box.  If 100 kids have one juice box each for recess then that is 5 dollars a day.  If every day 100 kids recycle their juice boxes for one year, the school could make 1825 dollars.  That’s a lot of money for recycling.” Matthew Coolen, Rockingham

“Here are some easy steps to make my community more environmentally friendly; don’t pour bacon grease, old medicine, or paint down the sink.  Put leaves and recyclables in clear bags, and take the bus to work a few days a week.” Leigh Huxtable, Rockingham School

“It doesn’t matter who you are, boy or girl,
We can all help, to save our world.
Teacher, kid, woman or man, everyone help and do everything we can.
Even the smallest little act
Can help save our planet, and that is a fact.”
Ryesna Naqui, Park West School

“We should stop throwing any chemicals into the toilet because it goes to the harbour and pollutes the water and kills the fish. … Instead of driving cars, whenever we have qa chance we should either ride a bike or walk.  It is not only good for the environment, but it is also good for our health.” John Kanellakos, Park West School

First place winners in each school won a $50 gift certificate to Chapters, and second place winners received a $25 gift certificate.