Our Adventure in London

(Hannah & Hollis)

On the 1^st July, we left behind SS John Fisher and Thomas More, to embark on our long awaited journey to London. We were ready to take our first steps into the House of Lords, to celebrate our work on climate change as nominees for the Barbara Ward Award for Care in the Environment.

As only two people were permitted to attend parliament. Hannah and I (Hollis) had to occupy ourselves in London for 5 hours, which certainly isn’t a bad deal! We both agreed we wanted to see Covent Garden, as we’ve heard it’s one of the key places to visit in the capital city.

The first obstacle of the day was that Westminster tube station was closed – nightmare. So this meant we had to walk all the way from Westminster to Covent Garden on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year.

Whilst in Covent Garden, which was amazing, we enjoyed the entertainment and some very much needed ice-cream before freshening up to go and meet Maisie and Theo, for the award ceremony at the Prince Charles Theatre, in Leicester square.

(Maisie & Theo)

We landed at Euston feeling refreshed and looking smart, ready for our adventure into Parliament. Then we went into the House of Lords, firstly entering the committee room, where we discussed our achievements with the other young people that were also nominated. It was very inspirational to listen to what the other nominees has been up to in their communities.

We then had afternoon tea, which consisted of scones, cakes, tea and sandwiches, which gave us more time to get to know everyone around us. It’s great to see other young people who have been empowered to make a difference in our world.

When everyone had finished, we made our way to the Prince Charles cinema in Leicester to meet Hannah and Hollis to receive our award for Care in the Environment. We felt very privileged to be able to share in this day with other young people, and win the award, it is great to know that our work has inspired others to act for climate change.

If you want to know more about Barbara Ward Award & Million Minutes –

http://www.millionminutes.org/

Check out CAFOD..

http://www.cafod.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/CAFOD?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/cafod

Barbara Ward Award – Congratulations Hollis, Masie, Hannah and Theo!

Hollis’ 15 Facts about Climate Change

Climate change..many people have heard of it, or think they know what it means, but only few really do know what climate change is. Often people find the topic of the climate difficult to engage with and believe that because they are so small as a person in this world, they won’t be noticed or their view won’t be heard and so ignore it completely. But if everyone has that attitude, nothing will ever be achieved and all the things we truly appreciate will be gone.

First world countries often don’t feel the effects of climate change and that’s why hardly any people recognise it as an issue. What these places fail to see is that it is effecting our brothers and sisters overseas. Flooding, wildlife extinction, rising sea levels and drought, are some of a long list of threats to our world and often these dangers particularly impact the less fortunate countries which simply don’t have the means to protect themselves and so are stuck in a vulnerable life.

Being a young climate blogger, I found out that reading facts about the most vivid factors of climate change were the things that pushed me to really to try and make a difference, whether that be locally or nationally. So this is why I wanted to write the blog filled with 15 strange facts about climate change that you may not have known, hopefully to encourage and inspire others to support the campaign, one climate one world.

• In first world countries, the main way people are suffering in places like Britain and the US is dehydration. The rising temperature is a common trigger to dehydration which leads to health problems, often in vulnerable people, especially the elderly. Met office estimated that up to 2000 vulnerable people lost their lives in the UK last year due to dehydration and the problems it causes.
• The global temperature on average has increased by 1.4°F since the 1800. Although the increase seems tiny, it’s a huge amount for the whole world to increase by this. This increase is all because of climate change and is the reason droughts and more vicious storms are becoming frequent.
• Around 15% of the carbon released into the environment is due to deforestation. On a global scale, 15% is catastrophic thinking of all the other things that produce carbon.
• The US are taking action with climate change as they maintain over $40 million to be used purely on climate change research.
• The rise in temperature will not only cause dehydration but will increase the spread of deadly diseases causing more deaths each year.
• In 2003 around 70,000 deaths occurred in Europe alone due to diseases because of the rise In temperature.
• Flooding is becoming more frequent which can spread water borne diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition. These three diseases alone have caused 3 million deaths since 2005, one third of these deaths in Africa.
• Depending on carbon emissions the rise in temperature is predicted to rise from 1 to 6.4 degrees by the end of this century.
• Because climate change is effecting the growth of crops in agricultural dependant countries, the food price is predicted to rise by 50-60% by 2030.
• Climate change causes the temperature to differ dramatically causing more deaths of heart disease due to the body not being able to cope.
• Hurricane Katrina was a famous examples of the effects of climate change.
• According to the World Food programme, by 2015 the number of people affected by climate change will reach 375 million per year.
• Air conditioners and heating elements consume 50% electricity in the US.
• According to research, by the end of this century the sea levels are predicted to rise between 7-23 inches.
• CAFOD is committed to building a world that is free from poverty and injustice and that’s why they have launched their new campaign, ‘one climate one world’.

             

The campaign ‘one climate one world’ was set up to encourage younger people to get involved in helping protect our world and reading facts similar to these were the reason we decided to join this campaign. Often our work is linked into the ‘For the Love Of’ campaign where we discuss the things we would miss most if it was taken because of climate change. Some things that are mentioned are things like the wildlife becoming extinct, the Maldives being completely submerged in water, and the food that would no longer be able to be grown or transported.

There may be things in your community which have been installed to help like solar panels and wind farms. Although some view these as unattractive and potential eyesores, they are actually the perfect things first world countries can be doing to help tackle climate change, being both practical and efficient.

 To try and do our bit we have been trying to make a difference in both small ways and big ways. In small ways by doing general things like turning off plugs and lights, and bigger ways by spreading the word. We have done numerous presentations and assemblies of the work we have been doing and also took part in events and promotions to try and do our part to tackle climate change.

I hope these facts have opened your eyes to the true issues and maybe even persuaded some people to join in our campaign to keep our world safe.

Thanks,

Hollis

If you want to know more about CAFOD and the ‘One Climate, One World’ campaign.

Check Out…

http://www.cafod.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/CAFOD?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/cafod

MP Andrew Stephenson & Prime Minister on CAFOD’S One Climate One World campaign!

Andrew Stephenson MP for Pendle, met with CAFOD young bloggers and SVP group from SS John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High school to discuss the issue of climate change. Inspired by the work of CAFOD and the young people at Fisher More, Mr Stephenson approached Prime Minister David Cameron on their behalf.

 

 

Young Bloggers engage MP Andrew Stephenson on the issue of Climate Change. Part 1

Hollis, Hannah, Maisie and Theo share their application for Young Bloggers!

Hola from Hannah..

Hi I’m Hannah!

Here’s a little bit about me..

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why

I would live in American because I love the hot weather.

What would be your dream job?

My dream job would be an Astronaut because it’s such an incredible experience.

Most played song on your Ipod?

Nickleback – What are you waiting for?

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

My superpower would be to fly, so I could get to places quicker.

If you could host a dinner party who would you invite?

I would invite: Gordon Ramsay  (So he could cook) & Zac Efron       

              What is your favourite food?

                Tuna and Stir Fry.

              What is your favourite smell?

Baking chocolate brownies.

What is your favourite TV Programme?

Catfish!!

Best Childhood memory?

Visiting Disneyland and having dinner with Mickey Mouse.

If someone gave you £500 what would you spend it on?

Clothes, Make-up and food.

Are you a morning or a night person?

Day time actually.

Your Favourite thing about Fisher More High School?

I love that were all like one big family.

Why have you chosen to support CAFOD?

I support CAFOD because I believe that CAFOD helps the worlds most vulnerable people.

If you could tell people one thing about climate change?

That not only will at affect our brothers and sisters abroad, it’s going to affect your own community and families.

What would you miss most in this world that will be affected by climate change?

I would miss the sunsets.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world?

I try to tackle climate change.

If you want to know more about CAFOD and the ‘One Climate, One World’ campaign.

Check Out…

http://www.cafod.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/CAFOD?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/cafod

Hey There, from Theo!

Hi, I’m Theo!

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

I would choose to live in Portugal, because its nice, quiet and peaceful country. Just out of the way of everything.

What would be your dream job?

My dream job would be either a session musician or working anywhere abroad.

 

Most played song on your ipod?

I will wait – Mumford and Sons.

What is your favourite food?

Raspberries.

What is your favourite sport?

Badminton.

What is your favourite film?

Avengers Assemble.

What is your favourite smell?

Petrol at the petrol station or the smell of KFC.

What Is your favourite TV programme?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Are you a morning or night person?

Night

Favourite thing about Fisher More?

The spirit everyone has!!

Why do you support CAFOD?

I just think its definitely the BEST charity.

If you could tell people one thing about climate change?

Our world is being seriously damaged by climate change.

What would you miss most in the world that will be affected by climate change?

I would miss all the wildlife that would be affected.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world?

I would definitely END poverty.

If you want to know more about CAFOD and the ‘One Climate, One World’ campaign.

Check Out…

http://www.cafod.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/CAFOD?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/cafod

 

Introducting CAFOD’S Young Climate Bloggers

Hannah, Maisie, Hollis & Theo

Congratulations Theo, Maisie, Hannah and Hollis from Fisher More RC High School, who have successfully become CAFOD’s Young Climate Bloggers.

 Their passion for climate justice has encouraged each of them to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world and to work in partnership with CAFOD by supporting their campaign ‘One Climate One World’.

Let’s get to know them a little better!