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Global Action Plan Ireland gapireland
Network
The Youth Environmental Network participants on a field trip in Co. Fermanagh, July 2011.
YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL
2011 s n o i s Vi Green
The Global Action Plan Youth Environmental Network (YEN) participants are young people living in Ballymun who take part in environmental actions and education in their local community. YEN want to share their opinions and visions on environmental issues that affect the Ballymun community. One of the key outcomes has been to develop this Green Visions document to inform agencies and community leaders in the community what the participants’ environmental concerns are. YEN gives young people in Ballymun a voice and empowers them to participate in positive actions in their community. The Youth Environmental Network activities from 2011 are highlighted in this document.
Survey Q 51% of young people surveyed are concerned
about nature and the environment.
Environmental Youth Survey
The participants carried out a survey of 100 young people living in Ballymun who are aged 12 to 18 years. The survey results are included in this document, and give an overview of young people’s opinions on environmental issues in Ballymun. The survey questions range from what people thought were the biggest environmental problems, what they would like to see happen, and what actions they are currently taking. Global Action Plan will use these results in our planning for community and youth projects happening in 2012.
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Survey Q 42% of young people surveyed think about how their actions affect the environment a lot of the time or all the time.
Q
Q
Q
23% think that the
Over 35% always
Over 25% often try
second most
recycle to help to
important environmental problem facing
protect the
environment.
environment.
Ballymun is energy
Over 20% often
45% use public
Over 40% of young
transport, which is
most important
people surveyed
an environmental
environmental
take action to save
problem facing
energy at home to
Ballymun is litter.
help to protect the
home to help to
protect the
consumption.
57% think that the
to use less water at
choose to buy things with less packaging, and to buy Fairtrade or organic products.
friendly way to travel.
environment.
Pump it up! To highlight C02 emissions caused by cars running on low tyre pressure the Youth Environmental Network participated in two Pump it up! events in IKEA Ballymun for World Environment Day in June, and also during European Mobility Week in September. With permission from the drivers they pumped the tyres of cars in the IKEA carpark to ensure they were running at the optimum pressure, therefore reducing C02 emissions and saving on fuel costs. After two days hard work, and a good deal of fun, the group made significant reductions in C02 emissions!
THE RESULTS CO2 emissions will be reduced by 1.2 metric tonnes!
427.70 litres of fuel will be saved! Pump it up! IKEA Ballymun
The drivers will be saved â‚Ź540.40 on fuel costs in total!
June 5th 2011
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Survey 40% of young people
24% would like to see
22% think there should be a
surveyed want more
solar panels on houses,
youth representative on
green areas and
schools and businesses to
committees that make
parklands in Ballymun.
create energy from solar
decisions about the
power in Ballymun.
environment in Ballymun.
Survey 50% of young people surveyed chose Facebook as their preferred way to hear
Exhibition in IKEA
about environmental news in Ballymun.
To explore environmental issues in Ballymun in a creative and fun way YEN went on an eco-photo trip around the community, taking photos that related to water, energy, waste, transport and biodiversity. They then came up with a slogan and design to create a poster on reclaimed card from IKEA carboard boxes. The participants also worked on an eco-jewelry project, creating rings from second-hand beads, buttons and wire. The posters and the jewelry were exhibited in IKEA Ballymun in May 2011.
28% would like to hear about environmental news in Ballymun by text, and 20% thought the best way was through information available to them in youth services or clubs.
Seed Bombing! In May 2011 the YEN participants made seed bombs out of clay, compost and wildflower seeds. They ‘bombed’ waste land in Ballymun to encourage the growth of wildflowers and biodiversity, and to make their community brighter and happier.
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Survey
Trip to the Field Studies Council in Co. Fermanagh, July 2011.
40% of young people surveyed never or rarely throw away things that could be recycled. 37% never or rarely use more water than they need. 57% never or rarely litter. 30% rarely use more
Field Studies Council (FSC) Summer Trip
power than they need, or buy things they don’t need. 39% rarely waste paper. 40% think that believing that what they do makes a difference, and the influence of their families would help them to act in
The FSC is a network of 17 education centres in the UK and Northern Ireland. They provide informative and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to discover, explore, be inspired by, and understand the natural environment. The GAP Youth Environmental Network were delighted to be accepted on to their Kids Fund programme that funded their trip to the FSC in Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. The trip was a valuable opportunity to engage in fun and challenging team-building and outdoor activities. It was also important for the participants to travel outside of Ballymun to engage in environmental and educational activities, including doing a river study of the River Sillees that flows through the FSC grounds. The activities provided informative and enjoyable opportunities for the group to discover, explore, be inspired by, and understand the natural environment.
a more environmentally friendly way.
Links Video Chasing butterflies
Doing a river study in the River Sillees in Derrygonnelly.
Interviews with Glen, Rebecca, and Aaron, who are all Youth Environmental Network participants, on their thoughts about environmental issues in Ballymun. These videos can also be viewed on our website www.globalactionplan.ie, in the media video gallery.
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Creating a giant spider sculpture out of reclaimed materials for the Otherwold Ballymun Halloween festival, October 2011
Survey Q 42% of people surveyed think that having friends who do things to protect the environment would help them to act in a way that is better to the environment. 40% think that being in an environmental youth
The Otherworld Ballymun Halloween Festival
club would help them to act in a way that is better
The Youth Environmental Network participants wanted to participate in the Otherworld festival in an environmentally friendly way, so they decided to reclaim an old sculpture that had been used in a previous festival and transform it into a giant scary spider! The legs were made from reclaimed plastic tubing, and the eyes from green plastic drink bottles. The participants brought the spider through the parade, and then it took a front seat spot decorating the main stage for the festival.
to the environment. Having more information about environmental problems and actions would help 42% to act in a more environmentally friendly way. The Youth Environmental Network is supported by Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL).
Contact Details Global Action Plan 13 Balbutcher Lane
www.gpscolour.co.uk
www.gpscolour.co.uk
Ballymun, Dublin 11 T: 01 8625846 E: info@globalactionplan.ie Web: www.globalactionplan.ie
www.gpscolour.co.uk
www.gpscolour.co.uk
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