Environment Team News
Committed to Conservation
COVID19 has severely affected our 2020 plans, but it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm or commitment of the MGC Environment teams!
The MGC Student Environment team have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to develop engaging Environmental campaigns to keep our community committed to conservation.
One team is working on our Zero waste to Landfill strategy, building a campaign about waste avoidance in a post lock-down world, due to be delivered at the 2020 on-line KTK youth Environment Conference in November.
Another group have worked with designers such as Megan Park to develop an eco-fashion shoot
…and 2020 Enviro Captain extraordinaire Lucy Skelton has spearheaded a team to move and redesign the annual MGC student Environment conference to an interactive on-line experience that will ultimately engage more young people around Climate. The 2020 MGC Student Environment conference is going to be hosted online on September 17th.
Speaking of Climate Change, did you hear that the federal Government is planning a COVID19 recovery by investing in Natural Gas infrastructure? I know what you’re saying- Natural Gas is a fossil fuel, its use still emits greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change, but it emits less pollution than coal. That’s a win isn’t it!?
But in other news, the Victorian Government is proposing a COVID-19 recovery plan that invests in renewable energy and plans to power all state schools, hospitals and public transport with 100% green power! That means that an MGC student can jump on a carbon neutral train, switch to a green powered Tram and sit under a wind powered air conditioner watching an exciting Kahoot quiz on the merits of carbon sequestration projected on an energy efficient projector system powered by 100% solar energy!
Our Environmental Issues and Action students have been maintaining their optimism for the environment by presenting our own favourite “inspirational nature” wildlife documentary clip to start each lesson. In stressful times, its important to remind ourselves of our place in nature and why we are here. Studying climate change and the greenhouse effect is confronting, so it’s nice to have the daily reminder of how wonderful nature is.
Today is National Threatened Species Day, commemorating the passing of the last known Tasmanian Tiger, Benjamin, who died in Hobart on September 7th 1936. A chance to reflect on endangered species, extinction and our own ecological footprints. It’s also a time to celebrate the fantastic and often innovative work that is done to preserve wildlife for future generations.
To celebrate NTSD, the MGC students studying marine biology and Environmental science were invited to attend their class dressed as a threatened species. I chose to attend as the Grey Nurse Shark, a species which sadly has become locally extinct within my lifetime. If any other members of the MGC community would like to dress up for Endangered Species, then please contribute a selfie or a short video clip using this private flipgrid account: https://flipgrid.com/670075fe A prize for the most creative entry will be presented next term.
Here’s a sample message you could follow:
Happy NTS Day! I am a (insert endangered species here) and I am threatened due to (insert threat(s) here). You can help bring me back from the brink of extinction by (insert suggestion here).
MGC Climate Conference
Next Thursday the 17th September from 12 pm - 3:10 pm AEST, MGC will be running a virtual climate conference for all MGC students who wish to attend and schools across the country! Although we are in the midst of a global pandemic, it is important to value all crises, climate change included. Through this virtual climate conference, we want to connect students with like-minded peers and provide opportunities for resource sharing so no school, nor student has to reinvent the wheel.
For myself, until I came to my high school in year 7 and participated in a climate change conference, although I had heard the words before, I didn’t know what they meant. When someone mentioned greenhouse gases, at that point I imagined a literal greenhouse where you grew literal green plants. For me, that was my tipping point towards action and now that I’m in Year 12, it is important to me that I can help offer the same opportunity to not only my school but students from across the country. For if we do not understand, how can we be expected to act.
The conference will include 3 sessions led by both professionals and students
- Arm yourself with knowledge (gaining a baseline understanding of the issue)
- A panel of experts (where are we now and where we need to go)
- How to take action (personally, as a school and more!)
If you are interested in securing spots for yourself please email Romy O'Donoghue (vice environment captain) as soon as possible to register your interest and to receive more information and log in details.
We will be in touch with all registrants detailing how to log in and how you can be involved before and after the virtual event. We look forward to your response and are excited about what we can do together.
Thanks for your time,
Lucy Skelton
2020 MGC Environment Captain