Environmental Youth Speak 2017 by Eoghain McLoughlin
St Colmans college participated in Environmental Youth Speak 2017 held in Downpatrick on 28th February. The event was organised by Newry and Mourne District Council. The purpose of the event is to encourage primary and second level children to discuss environmental issues. This years topic was food waste. 44 schools attended the event with pupils from Sacred Hear grammar Newry, St Malachys high School Castlewellan, St Louis Grammar Kilkeel, Our Ladys Grammar Newry and Kilkeel High school all participating in St. Colmans College section. On behalf of St. Colmans, Daire Mallon J 2B presented a very interesting talk on how much food is wasted in the UK. and what the impact of this wastage is on the Environment. 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. Each family throws away a full meal daily. Between 20-40% of vegetables grown in the UK every year are dumped not because they are not tasty and perfect to eat but because they are not good looking. While nature tolerates all shapes and sizes our supermarkets do not. Ever felt body conscious, well try being a carrot! But as discussed at the event this is a very serious issue the 20-40% vegetable waste is enough to fill Croke park all the way up to the top of the upper tier twice as a low estimate and 4 times as an upper estimate. Meanwhile countries like Sudan stare famine in the eye every day. In the 5 minutes it will take you to read this 24 children will die due to malnutrition. Do we seriously feel we are doing enough? But food waste is not just about hunger; our waste is destroying our environment. Food production is a significant source of greenhouse emissions which has caused global warming. We frequently get fed up with the rain in Ireland. But as soon as we get a short heat wave the farmers start to worry and rightly so, without rain there is no growth and no food supply. In Sudan they have had no rain for 497 days, what farmer can handle that challenge? Daire challenges us all to take action and Think, Eat, Save Think about what you busy and how much you need; only order what you will eat; Save food, money and the environment! By Eoghain O'Loughlin J2B