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Saving the planet one class at a time

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Jenny Quinton wants to save the world. A passionate environmental campaigner for most of her life, she believes children and schools are the driving forces for change in a world where environmental issues are rising to the top of the political and educational agenda.

Two years ago she resigned as an English Schools Foundation primary teacher and set up the project she had been dreaming about for years - Ark Eden - to educate Hong Kong people, youngsters in particular, about green issues.

Although controversial, Al Gore's Oscar-winning film An Inconvenient Truth brought home the dangers of the Earth's deteriorating environment. It has been screened worldwide, and the effects of pollution and the looting of the Earth's resources are now as much a part of dinner conversation as they are aspects of scientific research and debate in centres of power.

However, awareness raising and even shock tactics are no substitute for personal sacrifices by way of a change of lifestyle. Ms Quinton believes everyone can play a part in saving the environment and reducing the effects of climate change.

'The key is to create sustainable people,' she said. 'Ark Eden is all about getting children to think about the 'why' then the 'how' in order to do something about it, asking them to consider such questions as: What can I do to make a difference? How much more can I do tomorrow than today? How can each of us lessen our individual carbon footprints?'

The Ark Eden project, based at Ms Quinton's rural home at Mui Wo, Lantau, involves tailor-made environmental field trips, primarily for schools. The programme is flexible, depending on the needs of the group and current environment issues that link to the school curriculum.

It specifically looks at local situations, such as habitats, rivers, sustainability, tree planting and ecological restoration, to make learning more relevant and meaningful for students.

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