Global Warming Workshops for Primary School Children: Letters to the Earth

The Kiko (Climate) Network, a non-governmental organization, was established in April 1998, taking over the mission and activities of the Kiko Forum, which had been formed for the 1997 Kyoto Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3). In collaboration with other anti-global warming organizations, the network has been working on various activities such as conducting studies and research, providing information to the public, promoting renewable energy use, and lobbying the administration.

The network started a workshop program called the Otegami (meaning "letter writing") Workshop as part of its environmental education efforts in 1998. Under the program, volunteers, mainly college students, visit primary schools and explain the impacts and causes of global warming. At the end of this workshop, schoolchildren write letters to the Earth to sum up their thoughts.

The interactive nature of this workshop allows the participating students to find their own solutions and to create new ideas to curb global warming. And the act of writing letters gives them a chance to translate their thoughts about environmental issues into action.

Schoolteachers evaluate the program highly, saying that through it their students can learn about global warming issues in a comprehensive way, in contrast to the fragmentary coverage they often receive. They also value the program since the students are able to think for themselves and participate, not just sit and listen to someone talk.



Posted: 2004/05/11 03:42:33 PM
Japanese version