Here in Manitoba we talk about our weather a lot. We talk about how cold or hot it is, or how windy, or how rainy or dry. Our weather changes every day, but the climate is the average weather in a region over a long period of time. There have always been changes in the climate over the millions of years of the earth’s life. For example, the land we call Canada was covered with glaciers that melted and then reformed more than once during the last million years1.
The difference between those changes and what is happening right now is that this change is happening very quickly. Also, this time it is people and our activities, not natural events, that are making the planet warmer. Global warming is the name for the heating up of the earth’s atmosphere. Global warming is causing shifts in the long-term weather patterns across the earth, which is called climate change.
The earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of different gases that covers the whole earth like a blanket. And like a blanket, the atmosphere helps keep the earth warm. But because humans are putting more greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) into the atmosphere than ever before, the blanket is starting to keep in TOO MUCH heat. Humans put these gases into the atmosphere mostly by the burning of fossil fuels when we drive our cars, heat our houses, turn on our lights and electrical appliances, and run our factories.
Global warming has many effects on the day-to-day weather across the planet, not just on the temperature. There are changes to how much snow and rain falls during the year, as well as wind patterns. Global warming and the climate change it causes means that across the planet there will be more hurricanes, floods, and times with no rain at all (droughts). In Manitoba, we might sometimes have colder than normal winter days because of climate change, which makes weather patterns more extreme. Climate change also affects animals and plants that depend on climate conditions staying the same from year to year for their migration, food, and habitat needs.
Because it is people and our activities that are causing climate change, we can all be part of the solution by making changes in the way we live. When you turn off the lights as you leave a room, and unplug electrical equipment when you aren’t using it, you are part of the solution. When you walk, bike, or ride the bus to school, you are part of the solution. When you reduce, reuse, and recycle, you are part of the solution. When you write a letter reminding your Member of Parliament to take action to reduce global warming and climate change, you are part of the solution.
Yes, our students and teachers are making a difference!
RCM makes a difference at CRESTVIEW SCHOOL
Crestview school was fortunate to have Mary Melnychuk of Resource Conservation Manitoba(RCM) visit several classrooms. RCM is a non-profit,non-governmental centre for environmental education and applied sustainability.
RCM provides practical, down-to-earth information on active transportation, composting, waste reduction and resource conservation to households, workplaces, and communities as well as schools.
In January, Mary visited Mr. Lizotte’s Grade 5 class to talk about the Greenhouse Effect. In her presentation, she discussed how a greenhouse works, and talked about the effect of increased heat on our greenhouse planet. Ways of keeping planet Earth healthy and safe were also presented, along with specific actions the students and their families can take such as recycling, saving energy, and conserving water.
In March, Mary came back to Crestview and talked to each class, from Kindergarten to Grade 5, about making simple changes to create a litterless lunch; one that is healthy for them and the Earth. In April, the Kindergarten class was lucky enough to get another visit from Mary when she came to talk to them about paper. Mary explained how paper is made, showed the students alternative fibres, discussed paper recycling, and showed them samples of recycled paper products. The Kindergarteners were encouraged to consider how they could apply all four Rs (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to paper.
The students and teachers at Crestview school found Mary’s presentations to be lively and entertaining as well as educational for everyone! To learn more about these initiatives, please contact Sandra Simpson, Principal of Crestview School. (2009)
Living Future Bilingual Film Festival/L’Avenir Vivant Festival de Film Bilingue at BRUCE MIDDLE SCHOOL
On May 14, Bruce Middle School hosted a bilingual film festival to promote environmental awareness and sustainability. Students in the Environmental Club, Applied Technology, and the Grade 7 Enhanced French class worked with Freeze Frame, a local film-making organization.
Also, during regular classes, students in Computer Practical Arts and Grade 7 Basic French also developed films for the festival. The films highlight many key issues regarding sustainable living at home and at school. In the afternoon, the films were shown to the students, followed by a musical performance by a local francophone rock group, Entre Parenthèses (In Parentheses), who sang about environmental topics. Parents, friends, and relatives joined in on the fun in the evening, with a repeat performance of the films as well as special guest speaker. To learn more about this initiative, please contact Walt Lipinski, Principal of Bruce Middle School. (May 2009)
Staff and students at Ness Middle School are taking great strides to have our students become more aware of the need to protect our environment. In 2008 we attended the second annual St. James-Assiniboia School Division Environmental Youth Forum and set some Green Goals for the year.
We are hoping tohelp educate our community on ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint. One way was by creating Eco Facts flyers that were produced on recycled paper and distributed to our neighbors giving them some helpful hints on how to become more Earth Friendly.
We are also hoping that our neighbors will take part in the NO POWER HOUR. On the third Tuesday of each month, we are asking our staff, students, and community members to turn off their power for one hour. This will help conserve energy, while helping to promote families to spend the hour together doing something like playing a board game or storytelling by candlelight. To learn more about these initiatives, please contact Kevin Dueck, Principal of Ness Middle School. (2009)
