Written by:
Anara Chiongbian, Year 12
Unsurprisingly, global awareness means to be globally aware.
It is a concept based on looking at problems as a whole, beyond those of individual expectations and consequences. Although BSM focuses on addressing environmental issues and maintaining low ecological impact, global awareness also encompasses the economy, social culture and politics.
Last 17th to 21st of February, we, the Global Awareness Committee, successfully launched BSM’s GLOBAL AWARENESS WEEK 2014 with emphasis on how specific countries influences our views – whether positively or negatively - on what it means to be environmentally friendly.
We, as a CAS committee, were able to recruit members across the school to take on the roles of the top eco-friendly and eco-destructive countries: to become eco warriors and eco villains respectively. After careful deliberation, the eco-warriors concluded that the issues of pollution, transport, food, water and energy were the most significant in global importance. These eco members effectively adopted their country’s policies and personas in the process of addressing the issues raised within the week.
On Monday, as part of Stop Making Trash Day, we targeted the problem of waste pollution. The highlight of the day was the Trash Fash in which BSM models showcased clothes made of recyclable material created by our designers: Aileen Chong, Jackie Teer and Johanna Lietz. BSM students and teachers showed their support for global awareness week by showcasing their t-shirts (designed by Caolan Disini and merchandised by Jake Vergara) in their appreciation for eco-warriors, and the occasional eco-villain.
Perhaps the most impressive day that followed was Tuesday - Sustainable Transport Day - when students, parents and teachers made a collective effort to opt for more sustainable transport options: cycling, carpooling, bus taking, and walking. The bicycle proficiency clinic headed by R.O.X. Manila ensured that BSM students would be raring to take to asphalt by storm, perhaps beating cars stuck in the Manila traffic in the process.
On Wednesday, meat-lovers received a taste of their own medicine, by partaking in Global Awareness Week’s most controversial day – No Meat Day. The debate on vegetarianism was fueled by Mr. Mark Attwood’s impassioned speech for the vegetarian lifestyle and Mr. Simon Mann’s compelling discourse against it. Vegetarians, omnivores and the occasional carnivorous BSM student took to the vegetarian lifestyle, by trying dishes made by parent representatives and even students themselves. However, Mr. Michael Guinness heralded students and teachers alike towards exciting practices in entomaphagy, the consumption of insects for food. Quite literally tickling their taste buds! By the end of the day, results were clear for the majority: meat was a must, but in moderation.
Thursday brought up the issue of water sustainability and management. The first steps to weaning the BSM community off plastic bottles commenced, as every student was required to bring in a reusable water bottle. The hilarious lecture made on behalf of the Manila Water’s Waste Management Engineer, prompted the Y12s to reflect on what goes down their toilets, and how waste amazingly becomes drinkable water at the end of the purification process – which may or may not involve testing jet-skis in Manila Water’s reservoirs.
The week ended with an energetic bang on Friday’s Sustainable Energy Day. Thermostats were raised by a toasty 3° and lights were to be switched off when classrooms remained unoccupied. It was with the deepest regrets, that the eco-warriors on patrol shamed multiple classrooms with eco-villain stickers for leaving electrical appliances on whilst outside of rooms. Eco-villains wrecked havoc by sabotaging our KS4 & KS3 assembly, effectively taking Mrs. Russell as a hostage, but were later vanquished by the faithful eco-warriors.
With visits from the Norwegian, Australian, Swiss, French, Chilean, Italian, Malaysian, Spanish and Danish embassy organized by Mr. Mark O’Rourke, the week was truly an international one. Balanced with lectures made by Manila Water, ADB, Mark Lorenzo of One Million Lights, Solengery, and Mrs. Vergara of Celcor/FCVC, the BSM community was able to recognise the importance of taking action to resolve the international issues raised by the global community as a whole.
However, the week was not without its setbacks. Members of the communications committee were faced with issues broadcasting the Eco-Updates over the PA system. Yet these timely messages, put together and edited by expert musicians Elijah and Mica Lagman, from our favourite eco-warriors and eco-villains were nonetheless broadcasted to the greater school community during school breaks and lunches.
It was through school-wide collaborative efforts that we were able to persevere through these difficulties. The conglomeration of international issues, global solutions, visual and performing arts, and school spirit ensured for the first great global awareness week of many.
It was with great honor that I headed the organization of global awareness week, under the guidance of Mrs. Rebekah Russell and Mr. Simon Wooldridge, and with a momentous effort on the behalf of our effective, cohesive CAS committee. With the utmost confidence, I wholeheartedly believe that the BSM community has successfully taken a step closer to caring for the environment and making a change for the better.
What GLOBAL AWARENESS means to me is perhaps best summarized, in the words of Dr. Seuss:
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
— Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax
To receive updates on Global Awareness, like our FB page BSM Global Awareness and follow us on instagram.
*Below, we reveal the secret identities of our eco warriors and villains:
Most Environmentally Friendly Countries
1. Switzerland, Head of Global Awareness Week (Anara Chiongbian)
2. Norway (Johann Echavez)
3. Sweden (Bryan Fong)
4. Finland (Tanay Singhvi)
5. South Africa (Ranil Abeyasinghe)
6. Austria, Co-Head of Global Awareness Week (James Robertson)
7. New Zealand (Gregory Valkovic)
8. Latvia (Jake Vergara)
9. Colombia (Liam Madamba)
10. France (Sophie Tan)
Most Environmentally Destructive Countries
1. Brazil (Hollie Ireland)
2. USA (Megan Cornelissen)
3. China
4. Indonesia
5. Japan
6. Mexico (Paco Litonjua)
7. India (Vandana Dargani)
8. Russia
9. Australia
10. Peru
GLOBAL AWARENESS TEAM
Overaching CAS Committee
Teacher Head: Rebekah Russell and Simon Wooldridge
Student Head: Anara Chiongbian
Assistant Head: James Robertson
Members: Bryan Fong, Sophie Tan, Ranil Abeyasinghe, Johann Echavez, Tanay Singhvi, Gregory Valkovic
Art Committee
Heads: Caolan Disini & Louisse Lopez
Members: Nina Ti, Audrey Lukban, Aileen Chong, Jennie Park, Vandana Dargani
Communications Committee
Head: Elijah Lagman
Members: Jake Vergara, Tanay Singhvi, and Francine Lagman
Drama Committee
Head: Tanay Singhvi
Members:
■ Script Writers (To Collaborate with Film): Jamie Harvey, Megan Cornelissen, Hollie Ireland,
■ Eco Villains: Hollie Ireland (Brazil), Megan Cornelissen (USA), Vandana Dargani (India), Paco (Mexico)
■ Eco Warriors: Sophie Tan (France), Bryan Fong (Sweden), James Robertson (Austria), Ranil Abeyasinghe (Costa Rica), Johann Echavez (Norway), Tanay Singhvi (Finland), Gregory Valkovic (New Zealand), Jake Vergara (Latvia)
Film Committee
Head: Albert Rano
Assistants: Jamie Harvey
Merchandise
Head: Jake Vergara
“In a world under the state of calamity, looming with the threat of climate change, all hope seems lost. A single beacon of light shines in the darkness: the Eco Warriors. Can they save the world from the wrath of the Eco Villains? Their staunch assistance will be naturally forthcoming to uphold the values of a peaceful, harmonic world.”
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1 comments:
Colombia not Columbia
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