What do Jake Gyllenhaal, the environment, and eco-schools have in common? I wouldn't usually consider the three linked, especially since I know very little about Jake (we don't run in the same circles, naturally!) but they do share something. Maybe his time spent outdoors in Brokeback Mountain caused him to be bit by the green bug?
According to a blog on JustJared.com, (can be found at http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/02/19/jake-gyllenhaal-global-green-usa/ ) Jake visited a garden at Manuel Arts High School in Los Angeles. He visited on February 19 for Green Service Day. Jake is a member of Global Green USA which is setting up a National Green Schools Initiative.
How does Jake's visit fit in with the environment and eco-schools? Its not just because I felt like writing about Jake, although I'm a Spiderman fan, its hard not to be, actually!
Eco-schools and Global Green USA are both striving to create greener schools. Objectives are similar for both, differing mostly in that one is a UK organization and the other American. Although Eco-schools is UK based it should be said that they work internationally also.
Here are some Eco-schools facts which you can also find on their site- http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/film/
- Eco-schools is one fifth of programs run internationally by Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
- It is an award program geared to make schools more sustainable and get students on board through a number of ways
- Sustainable is- caring for each other, oneself, and the environment
- A school team is set up to manage/begin eco activities at school and get students involved
- Team/school earns bronze, silver, or green flag awards contingent upon efforts (amount of minutes allotted for meetings, frequency of meetings etc.)
- an all over eco/green program for schools involving decreasing litter, transportation (emissions) and raising awareness about Biodiversity and its importance
Several components make up Eco-schools, these are only a few goals.
Here's a description of Global Green USA's National Green Schools Initiative from their website.
'A green school, also known as a high performance school, is a community facility that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green schools protect occupant health, provide a productive learning environment, connect students to the natural world, increase average daily attendance, reduce operating costs, improve teacher satisfaction and retention, and reduce overall impact to the environment.'
Their benefits include and can be found on the website also at- http://www.globalgreen.org/greenurbanism/schools/
- energy and water operation costs can be reduced 20-40%-leaving this money to spent on other things!
- 'Attention to site planning and adequate daylighting has been shown to heighten student performance by as much as 25%'
- student and teacher health could improve
- attendance rates could increase
In addition to providing the top ten reasons for creating Green Schools, bonus, the site provides an already written letter to urge school your school officials to do so. You can't beat that with a stick!
Eco-schools will be doing an event on June 24th at Stoneleigh Conference and Exhibition Center near Conventry. Several elements will be included in the day's events including emceeing done by 'Buster, the wastebuster'. Anywhere a blue monkey talking about the environment and eco-schools goes, is where I want to be.
As for getting more information on Eco-schools, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Global Green USA check out the links below. Sorry, I don't know any personal contact information on Jake, wish I did!
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