On Monday, 14th July, a group of school children from the Hampshire village Hartley Wintney delivered a giant, colourful petition made of recycled bed sheets as well as hundreds of paper footprints to 10 Downing Street, calling on the government to protect their future. The petition calls on the government to cut the UK's carbon footprint by 90%.
As chair of the Hartley Wintney Operation Noah group, I had taken the petition to all four primary schools in the area and collected hundreds of brightly coloured signatures as well as hundreds of paper footprints, each with a child's pledge to do something to cut his or her carbon footprint. St John's Church Careforce volunteer Josh Parmar helped me collect the signatures. Adults of the village had their own official petition to sign which was also give to 10 Downing Street. The aim of both petitions is to get government to strengthen the Climate Change Bill.
Children representing each of the schools in the area traveled up to London by train on the 14th in time to knock on No. 10 Downing Street at 12 noon. They were joined by our MP, James Arbuthnot who has been very supportive of Operation Noah. The petition had been presented to Mr Arbuthnot at the Hartley Wintney Operation Noah Day on 5th July. (You can read all about that here.)
Children as young as five can understand the basics of climate science. All you need to tell them is that carbon dioxide acts like a blanket over the earth and that it is made when we use energy. They can work out for themselves what will happen to polar bears when we drive too many cars. And you don't need to teach children the innate worth of a polar bear. It is highly appropriate that this was a children's petition as it is they who will see the physical results of this generation's actions - either of our moral and spiritual bankruptcy or of our courage, vision and integrity.
