Global Action Days 2021
My Actions Matter
Over the last four decades, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has focused on the development of five cutting edge programmes that are recognised globally as key enablers in the field of Education for Sustainable Development. FEE continues to strive to create positive impact worldwide. Aligning with the Agenda 2030, FEE has identified three overarching goals that address three burning environmental problems that face us today – climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. These are also the themes of the 2021 Global Action Days campaign.
About the Campaign
The Global Action Days 2021 Campaign, in partnership with Now.Here., engaged youth through the Treasure Earth app in small positive actions (Handprints) that each one of us can take to become more compassionate towards Earth. The campaign mobilised the power of our network and demonstrated how small individual action can have a great impact on our own and our Earth’s wellbeing.
The campaign was designed as a 21-days journey of ‘Compassionate Actions’. These actions inspired participants to live and act differently by crystallising intentions into concrete actions and new patterns of positive behaviour.
Week 1 – Protect Global Biodiversity
Week 2 – Reduce Environmental Pollution
Week 3 – Empower Climate Action
Scroll down to see the activities for each week
A message from our President, Lesley Jones
“We’re delighted to be celebrating Global Actions Days and raising awareness of the positive action that is taking place around the world to create a more sustainable society.
We’re proud to work with members in 77 countries – reaching out across the globe to thousands of businesses and organisations, as well as millions of students. The commitment and innovation of those involved in FEE programmes can’t be underestimated and deserves to be showcased on the global stage.
Hundreds of stories have already been shared – from students in Turkey using insects to protect forests, to a Latvian holiday park making the switch locally sourced energy. I’d encourage everyone to make the most of this opportunity and take part in Global Action Days; promote positive action, share learning with international partners and help inspire the rest of the world.
Finally, on behalf of FEE, I’d like to thank our members, partners and programme participants. Thank you for everything that you do to bring about positive change. By working together, we can ensure a sustainable world for us, our children and future generations.”
Activities
Week 1: Biodiversity
Take a 10-minute walk in a green space. It can be a nearby forest, park, beach, or even your own garden/under a tree. For 30 seconds, close your eyes, stand or sit still, relax, breathe, and just listen to your surroundings.
Open your eyes and look around for a flower, plant, bird, or insect that you find beautiful or interesting. Take a photo of it and share it in your community on the app together with a caption that shares two things that you appreciate about the plant or animal in the photo. You can also post the photo on FB/Instagram with the hashtag #MyActionsMatter.
Before going back home, you can select the emotions that resonate with you at this moment in your Treasure Earth app diary and log it down.
To learn more, watch this Canadian video on Biodiversity 101.
Do you know how easy it is re-grow veggies and herbs from kitchen scraps? Look around your kitchen and see if you can find veggies or fruit seeds that can be replanted. For inspiration, check out this video!
Track your plants’ progress by taking photos of them on a weekly basis. As a practice of gratitude, are there new things that you observed about your plant that you can express gratitude for? Upload your weekly photos along with an expression of gratitude in your community in the app or FB/Instagram with the hashtag #MyActionsMatter!
Since you have started this journey of compassionate actions, you can help us by answering a short survey.
Create your own biodiversity mini-documentary! With your phone/camera, record any animal or plant on your balcony, garden, nearby park, or nature area. Find its name and research its role in the eco-system. Tip: try out https://www.inaturalist.org/
Find out: Is it a native or invasive species? Does it attract pollinators? Is it a keystone species? Does it migrate? What are two ways in which we are connected to this species? (similarities/dependence on one another etc.) Put it all together in a short video and share it online with the hashtag #MyActionsMatter.
You could be inspired by this YRE video from Scotland!
An endangered or threatened species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular area. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and invasive species.
Talk to your family or teachers about what animals that might be endangered in your region. If you are not sure, you can have a look here.
Consider what would it feel like to be on the brink of extinction? Write one sentence that you would like to share if you were an animal about to be extinct? Share your feelings with friends and family. If you feel any sadness or despair, you may like to take a moment to take three deep breaths and pay attention to the sensations of your feet on the ground.
Take a look around your kitchen and see how many environmental labels you can find on your food-products. You might find labels such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSP), Rainforest Alliance Certified, or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Choose one label and do a little research on what it stands for – how does it help protect nature and biodiversity? You can share your learnings in your community in the app.
Next time you are in the supermarket, take a few moments to look if any of the available products have an environmental label. Are you willing to buy a product with an environmental label even if it is more expensive?
Find a good spot for your party on your balcony, in your garden, or an outside common area. You can celebrate in different ways, for example by setting up a bird feeder with different kinds of seeds, making a water station for bees and other pollinators, or planting a few outdoor flowers. You can find more ideas here.
It might take some time before your wild guests find their way to the party, so stay patient 😊 When they arrive, take a photo of your outdoor biodiversity celebration and share it in your community. Remember to not frighten your friend!
How do you feel in the moment of celebration? Select the emotions that resonate with you at this moment in your Treasure Earth app diary and log it down.
You can share the picture of your guests in your community in the app or post it on FB/Instagram with the hashtag #MyActionsMatter!
Thank you for your efforts so far! Here are a few additional steps we recommend you take to reinforce your intentions and appreciate your efforts.
Pause for 1 minute and be present in the now and here. Close your eyes and focus on one breath in, and one breath out. Repeat this three times. Place your hand/s on your heart, pay attention to the warmth and contact of your hand. Recall the intentions that you had set as well as the practices and acts that you have completed.
Taking a big deep breath, how do you feel in this moment, without any judgement? In your Treasure Earth app diary, select the emotions that resonate with you and log it down.
Sign the pledge to support a healthy and safe planet for everyone!
Week 2: Reduce Environmental Pollution
Action 1: The Beauty of Nature
Take a moment to watch David Attenborough’s version of a “Wonderful World”
Putting your hands on your heart, ask yourself, how do you feel as you watch the video? Open your Treasure Earth diary and enter the feelings you are experiencing.
Action 2: Learning from Nature
Take a 10-minute walk anywhere outside. Take your time and engage each of your senses one by one. What do you see, smell, and hear? What is one thing you are thankful about what you just observed? Can you think of reasons why nature does not produce any waste?
Try to list at least three types of pollution. Discuss with your friends and family about the ones that are most upsetting to you. Explain why?
Share your thoughts in your community on the app or on FB/Instagram with the hashtags #MyActionsMatter and #LitterLessCampaign.
Together with a friend or family member, watch this short video about plastic pollution.
What emotions are you feeling as you watch the video? What emotions do you think an animal, such as a dolphin, turtle, or seabird experiences if it swallows a bottle cap or is caught in a plastic bag? It can be difficult emotionally for us to watch such videos. To support yourself, you may wish to turn away from the video, close your eyes and take three deep breaths before moving on.
What can we do to reduce the suffering of the animals? For some ideas, you can watch this video.
Share your feelings and handprint commitment on FB or Instagram using the hashtags #MyActionsMatter #Handprint #LitterLessCampaign.
Action 4: Invisible Pollutants
Not all types of pollutants can be smelled or are visible to our eyes. We tend to use many products that contain chemicals that evaporate into the air or are washed into our sewage systems posing a risk to humans, animals, and plants.
Can you find five products in your home that contain toxins or chemicals that can be harmful for humans, animals, and plants? How do these chemicals find their way to nature?
Can you find or make alternative products that are less harmful? For inspiration, you can check out this video.
Share your ideas of non-toxic products in your community in the app or on FB/Instagram with the hashtags #MyActionsMatter and #LitterLessCampaign.
Action 5: Saving Power - Saving the Planet
Together with your parents or guardians, find and count all the electronic appliances in your home (for example, TV, microwave, lamps, computer, charger, printer etc.) Unplug all of them for one hour (except freezer, refrigerator, or any other essential electronics!). Consider how many you can keep off and only turn on when needed.
Before turning off your phone, watch this YRE video and get some ideas for how to reduce your Internet Pollution.
Use your time away from the screen to talk to your family and friends, do sport, or be creative.
Sit quietly and reflect on the things you have bought the past two months. Any new clothes, electronic gadgets, decorations for your room, makeup? Why did you buy these? How long will they last?
Call your grandparents or a family friend over 70. Ask them what and how many things they bought when they were your age. Why do you think we are buying more things and producing more waste today?
We all need to carefully consider our consumption needs and habits to promote a circular rather than a linear, “buy-and-throw-away” culture. Learn the basics about Circular Economy here.
Share your commitment to reduce consumption on FB/Instagram with the hashtags #MyActionsMatter and #LitterLessCampaign.
Action 7: Celebrate the clean environment with a litter-pick-picnic!
Choose a time for a litter-pick-picnic with your family or friends. Pack a blanket, some food and drinks, as well as gloves/litter-pickers, bags, and hand sanitizer. Walk together to a nice green area of your choice. On your way there, pick up the litter that you might see on the street or path.
Once you arrive, take 10 minutes to pick up any litter in the surrounding area – even the small cigarette butts!
Celebrate your efforts by enjoying the clean nature together and the food you brought. Take a photo of your celebration and share it in your community in the app. You can also share the photo on FB/Instagram with the hashtags #MyActionsMatter and #LitterLessCampaign.
Week 3: Empower Climate Action
Action 1: The Changing Climate
Time for some fresh air! Go outside for 5 minutes. What is the weather like today? Take your time and engage each of your senses one by one - what do you see, feel, hear, smell? What is one thing you are thankful about this weather?
Is this typical weather for your area at this time of year? Come back inside and ask your parents or a teacher if they have noticed a change in weather in your country the past 10 years.
Can you explain the difference between weather and climate? Watch this short video to learn the basics.
Carbon footprint is a measure of a person's or event or organization's or product's total direct or indirect emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents. Have you ever wondered what your carbon footprint is? Take this quiz to find out.
Share your footprint and reflections on FB/Instagram with #MyActionsMatter.
Find seven food products in your kitchen (e.g. fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, nuts) that have a label telling where the product was produced.
Do some of these products grow naturally in your country during certain times of the year? Or are they transported to your supermarket from other countries? Consider how this might impact the weather and our environment overtime and give appreciation to the environment that we are currently living comfortably in.
Be inspired by this YRE video from Sweden and find out what local and seasonal food products you have in your country.
Repeat the following affirmation, “I care for my health and about what I eat”
Action 3: SOS - It’s an Emergency
Together with your parents or guardians, imagine that your home is threatened by a natural disaster (e.g. a forest fire, flood, or hurricane). Pick one that is a potential risk in your area.
Discuss - What would be important for you as a family to do (and not to do) in this situation? Where would you go? What would you bring with you? Who would you contact? How do you feel as you envision yourself in this situation? Select the emotions that resonate with you at this moment in your Treasure Earth app diary and log it down. Take three deep breaths before moving on.
Write down or draw the most important steps on a piece of paper and hang it somewhere visible. For inspiration to create an emergency plan, you can watch this video.
Share a picture of your planned steps in your community on the app or on FB/Instagram with #MyActionsMatter
Action 4: Wonderful World of Chocolate
Think of your favourite chocolate treat. If you have one in your kitchen, find it, and look at the label. Make a list of its ingredients, find out where it was produced and its packaging.
Find a blank piece of paper and draw every step of this chocolate’s journey all the way from producing the ingredients to arriving in your kitchen. You can find some inspiration in this video. Consider how many different countries/people/tools helped make this chocolate. Take a photo of your drawing and share it in your community on the app.
Next time you are in the supermarket buying chocolate, consider if you can choose one that was produced sustainably, considering people and the environment.
Action 5 - What’s on Your Feet?
Find all the pairs of shoes you own (any kind of footwear counts: Sneakers, sandals, rubber boots, rollerblades, stilettos, flip flops, etc.)
Divide them into two piles: ones you use daily (during different seasons) and ones you only use once in a while.
Take a photo of the two piles and discuss with your family/friends the number of shoes you rarely or never use - why did you buy these? Could someone else use them? How can you avoid buying shoes in the future that will only collect dust in the closet? Why do you think it is so hard to change our consumption/shopping habits?
Upload the photo of your footwear together with your reflections in the community group and/or on FB/Instagram with #MyActionsMatter
Did you ever wonder how much CO2 you save by taking the train instead of the plane to your favourite destination? Find out by using the CO2 Calculator here (Donations are not required).
Share in your community what travel option has the lowest CO2 emission. You can also post it on FB/Instagram with #MyActionsMatter
For one whole day, choose to only walk or bike anywhere you need to go. Discuss your plan for the day with your parents. Make a plan for the future: e.g. “every Thursday, I will walk or bike to school”.
You are now only one day away from the end of this campaign! Help us understand your journey, so we can improve future campaigns by filling this survey.
Action 7: Reflect and Celebrate!
Thank you for joining us in this 21-day Journey! Thank you for your efforts!
Pause for one minute and be present in the now and here. Close your eyes and focus on one breath in, and one breath out. Repeat this three times. Place your hand/s on your heart, pay attention to the warmth and contact of your hand. Recall the intentions that you had set as well as the practices and acts that you have completed.
Taking a big deep breath, how do you feel in this moment, without any judgement? In your Treasure Earth app diary, select the emotions that resonate with you and log it down.
Acknowledge your efforts and celebrate with your friends and family. Take a photo of your celebration and upload it in your community in the app and share it on FB/Instagram with #MyActionsMatter