Schoolboy urges politicians to go green

Apr 29 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A LIVINGSTON schoolboy has joined discussions on how to make Scotland a greener place.

Williamston Primary School pupil, Lewis Macdonald, presented his ideas to MSP Angela Constance at the Scottish Parliament last week.

With climate change high on the agenda and the quest to put Scotland’s renewable energy industry on the map, Lewis was keen to present his manifesto to Angela who was joined by fellow MSPs, Mary Mulligan and Bruce Crawford, and find out how environmental issues can be tackled here.

Lewis is one of 22 children in the Generation Green think tank, set up by British Gas as part of their Generation Green schools programme.

The think tank aims to give kids a voice on tackling climate change and a chance to put their bright ideas to the people in power.

Following three policy workshops, the members of the Generation Green think tank, supported by leading environmentalist, Julia Hailes MBE, developed recommendations which form their Generation Green manifesto.

Recommendations include UK schools setting clear goals to cut their carbon and to be able to see how much energy they are using, so they can work with their teachers to find ways to cut down; green issues should become a part of every lesson on the school timetable and teachers to be given more training and support to help them do this with all schools being given Government funding for green energy, in the same way as schools are given funding for books and other essentials.

As well as attending the workshop sessions, the children have been working hard to take their green message into their own schools and communities.

Activities include writing a green column for their local newspaper; challenging holiday parks to offer recycling facilities and advising their local council on environmental initiatives.

The Generation Green think tank was selected by a panel of expert judges, following a nationwide search for the UK’s greenest young minds.

Generation Green launched the search in response to a survey which showed that children want their voices to be heard on climate change, and are frustrated at being sidelined.

Julia Hailes commented: “I'm delighted that the Generation Green children had a chance to share their views with the political leaders.

“I've really enjoyed my time working with them throughout the Think Tank journey and I'm convinced they're going to go to do great things on the green front. I certainly hope so because they've had some inspiring ideas.”

Kevin Roxburgh, managing director of Scottish Gas, said: “I’m amazed at the passion and idea generation demonstrated by the Generation Green Think Tank members towards a sustainable and greener future.

“After all his hard work, I hope Lewis enjoyed presenting the manifesto at the Scottish Parliament and hearing what the MSPs had to say.”