Kids speak up on environmental issues
Stone Han
Age 8, from Taiwan Province. In the 2nd grade at Shijia Hutong Elementary School.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
Because we live on the earth.
Why do you care about the environment?
If the environment is bad, we will feel bad too. If the fields are dirty, our food will be dirty. If water is dirty, we can’t take showers and drink water. If nature isn’t protected, animals will become extinct. And we may become extinct too.
What do you do to protect the environment?
I put garbage around me in the trash can. And I don’t litter.
Fergus Chan
Age 10. Chinese-Austrian. In Year 5 at Dulwich College Beijing.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
Because all the dirty things will be around the earth, and all people will be destroyed. The grass and trees and flowers will die, and if they die, we can’t eat all the fruits and vegetables – they will be dead too.
Why do you care about the environment?
Because if we don’t care about the environment, it will be very, very dirty. Everywhere will be dirty. And many things will be destroyed.
What do you do to protect the environment?
I try to tell people to use less trees for paper. Always, I see people use one side of paper and throw it into the dustbin. If you use paper, you need to use both sides.
Misha Campbell
Age 8. Australian. In the 2nd grade at Beanstalk International Bilingual School.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
It’s easy for it to get dirty, and everything’s going to get polluted. It’s dusty and dirty. We won’t live a good life. All the seas and beaches would get dirty. There won’t be as many fish. It’s not good.
Why do you care about the environment?
Because I want to make the earth better. I don’t want everything to get polluted. I just want to help.
What do you do to protect the environment?
I don’t put rubbish all over the place. I don’t spit. I keep the earth clean. I don’t like to use all the electricity. I only play my Gameboy a few times a week – that way, I don’t use too much electricity. I don’t waste water because without water we wouldn’t be living right now.
Nitin Philip
Age 9. Indian. In the 4th grade at Beijing City International School.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
So we have food and enough air to breath.
Why do you care about the environment?
Because if the air is not clean we will not be able to live for long.
What do you do to protect the environment?
I put waste in the trash. We recycle.
Samantha Angle
Age 11. American. In the 5th grade at Beijing City International School.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
If there is no more environment, we can’t live anymore. Animals could die if they choked on our litter.
Why do you care about the environment?
If the environment is messed up, animals and people might die because of the pollution. If there are no more trees, the air won’t be clean. It would be pretty dull if there weren’t any more nature.
What do you do to protect the environment?
Throw things in the garbage can. Don’t litter.
Etoile Smulders
Age 13. Dutch. In the 8th grade at the Western Academy of Beijing.
Why is it important to take care of the earth?
We only have one earth. If we don’t take care of it, we will ruin it. If it’s ruined we won’t live a good life because we won’t have something to live on.
Why do you care about the environment?
I care a lot because I’ve lived in China my entire life, and I’ve seen how bad the pollution and the environment can get. When I go on holiday in Europe I see the difference between Europe and China and how big it is. When I come back, I feel that it’s my fault, and I have to do something about it.
What do you do to protect the environment?
At my school, I’m the community service coordinator. I encourage people to get involved, and I educate people about environmental problems. And I’m also a leader of WAB Roots & Shoots, and I take a leadership role in choosing fundraising events and educating other students. I’ve also started my own organization called Kids Against Animal Cruelty, and we work with other animal welfare organizations in China and raise awareness about animal welfare problems and issues.
