Left: Akino Lewis, a student of Cornwall College, with his winning plaque in Kingston yesterday. Akino won the first-place prize in the Earth Day poster competition. Right: Vanessa Logan, a student of Immaculate Conception High School, with her winning plaque at the Institute of Jamaica yesterday. Vanessa won the photography competition. - photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
As the Institute of Jamaica hosted its prize-giving ceremony for the 'Earth Day essay, poster and photography competition 2009', the engagement of the students with the issues of climate change was clear to see. Eighteen schools, grades 7-11, took part in the tenth staging of the event, titled 'Global Warning', with about seventy entries across three categories.
The winners of the essay, poster and photography prizes respectively were Khamal Clayton, Akino Lewis (both of Cornwall College) and Vanessa Logan of Immaculate Conception High School.
Dione Newell, senior research officer of entomology at the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ), noted that the aim of the competition was to "inspire awareness for the world's environment".
Dangers of climate change
As other speakers replaced her on the pot-plant covered stage, the message was clear: young people must realise the dangers of climate change if any progress is to be made. Hopeton Heron, the essay prize judge, commended the Institute for "engaging our youths in a very worthwhile exercise".
Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), noting how the children had reacted to the issues, said: "It heartens me that they understand the link between global warming and disasters." Jackson later said: "We're seeing an enlightenment of the education system." The ODPEM runs several targeted programmes with UNICEF that try to mainstream these issues and he is keen to see the style of this competition replicated. "It's not just telling them they've got to learn for a test," he said, "it is a good way to express their creativity."
Jackson hoped that competitions such as the Earth Day intiative would start to "send messages to the general public."
Dr Sherene James Williamson, former education outreach officer for the NHMJ, was full of praise for the competition's sponsors. "In this economic climate, the fact that we still get the sponsorship that we do is brilliant," she said.
The sponsors this year were JPS, CARIMAC, LIME, Pesticides Control Authority, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Kingston Bookshop, Carlong Publishers, Hyltons Trophies and Awards, GraceKennedy and the Coconut Industry Board.