Huntsville Public School took part in an international project called Rescue Mission Planet Earth. The project involved rewriting Agenda 21, the document tabled at the Earth Summit in 1992. The project was coordinated by Peace Child International in England and involved young people worldwide. The result of the project was Rescue Mission Planet Earth: A Youth Edition of Agenda 21, now available in over nine languages.
Out of 10 000 kids in over 100 countries, students from Huntsville Public School helped write chapters on poverty and consumption patterns. Their task was challenging given that the Agenda 21 documents were written in legalese and were difficult for anyone to understand let alone a child! The students researched environmental issues, wrote many papers on the topics and took part in an international tele-conference with Rescue Mission Headquarters in England. During the conference the students exchanged information about Canada's environment with other students from England, Poland, the Philippines and Tanzania.
After they finished their part of the project the students from Huntsville didn't stop there. The students spoke at various functions around Huntsville, in local churches, at their graduation and at the first school board meeting of the year. They petitioned against potential building on the only waterfront left in Huntsville's town centre. Through the summer, they had information tables at market days, farmer's markets and other flea markets. They've met with their local Member of Parliament, the Minister of the Environment, Sheila Copps, and other dignitaries on Parliament Hill.
The students plan to continue their work on Rescue Mission and to raise awareness and understanding about the environment. The students said "the project was the highlight of our years at school and we learned so much from it. I hope that everyone will recognize the importance of educating children about our environment. We hope to see it taught in every classroom around Canada because we are the next keepers of the world, and without education, we may be the last".
Benji Jordan, Sheila Mathies, Ian Crosson, Derrick White, Jeremey Wyville and the
kids of Rescue Mission Canada. For more information please contact Susan Hawkins at Huntsville High School, 705-789-5594, fax 705-789-9381.
