Eton College pupils and staff have been making their own pledges as part of World Environment Day today.
The theme of this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Environment Day is Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care, with the organisation encouraging people around the world to post their own individual pledges and aspirations.
At Eton the pledges and dreams posted by pupils varied from: “I pledge to not buy products from companies that break environmental regulations” to “I pledge to plant a tree this summer and sponsor the planting of trees in the Amazon.” The ideas were put on display on a notice board outside the school.
The initiative was organised by the Eton Green Reps.
“Green Reps Giles Atkinson (GRP), Kevin Cho (AMM) and Edmund Coke (Coll) came up with the idea after I asked them to do an assembly on World Environment Day to their peers”, said Biology teacher Kerri Hicks, who helped with the project.
“We had no idea it would be so popular (in part, I’m sure, due to the ice-creams on offer!) What really stood out for me was the number of boys genuinely interested or concerned and wanting to voice their opinions and ideas.
“I had some illuminating conversations with boys who are already involved in various environment initiatives and want to do more. Many thanks to Eton’s Art Department, Eton Pre-School and of course, Maurice’s ice-cream van, who all made it such a great success. We have even bigger plans for next year.”
