Eco Ed China Holds Earth Day Conference
Jim Anderson
05/13/2016
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During the last year, five schools have coalesced to form an alliance that advocates for protecting the
environment. Eco Ed China is an innovative idea that aims to see schools combine their resources and
expertise to advance the notion that “together we can “ Go Greener.” This Earth Day, QSI of Dongguan,
Utahaloy of Zengcheng, ISD of Dongguan, NCPA of Dongguan and SIS of Shenzhen united to have the
first conference in Dongguan that solely was dedicated to the environment.
The keynote speaker for this first annual Eco Ed China Earth Day Conference was Tracey Read from
Plastic Free Seas of Hong Kong. “I didn’t realize that humans have dumped so much plastic in the
ocean. It is important that we pay attention to this issue,” stated Vera Lei, a 10th grade student from
ISD. Ms. Read’s message astonished the student participants. A Texas sized area of plastic in the
middle of the pacific and so much marine life carnage from eating plastic remnants were strong
arguments to get students environmentally concerned.
The Alliance for Climate Change (ACE), an environmental organization out of the USA, presented via
digital movies and Skype. Wen Lee, an ACE educator, answered questions after over a hundred
students watched scientific and informative videos of how climate change is affecting our Earth. Ms. Lee
encouraged students to “D.O.T.,” do one thing. Ms. Lee urged students to refrain from using plastic
bottles, using plastic bags, or simply reducing what we use. This Earth Day conference was exciting for
ACE because this was their first presentation in Asia.
Along with these two presenters, there were workshops given by teachers and students from the various
schools. Students savored meatless dishes, planted seeds in a gardening workshop, learned about
compost tea, and measured their energy footprint in an alternative energy workshop. Students were
given a choice on which workshops they wanted to attend.
Eco Ed China is already looking forward to next year’s fall leadership conference and next year’s Earth
Day conference. At the leadership conference, students will meet and plan environmental projects.
Some of these projects will be in alliance with local Chinese environmental groups. Some projects will
focus on educating people by selling merchandise with Chinese and English environmental slogans that
promote going green.
Since the Earth Day conference, two schools have enquired about joining this alliance. If you wish to
join or want to start your own Eco Ed organizations, you can go www.ecoedchina.com or email Jim
Anderson at [email protected].