Queen's College for Cool Earth

One of our Senior College students has been promoting a charity which protects the rainforest.

Eliza (ISL/A) has been the driving force behind the initiative that has had Queen's girls informing themselves and taking action to preserve the unique environment of the Peruvian rainforest. She writes:

On Tues 12 January we held an event in the Pfeiffer Hall to sponsor the charity Cool Earth. The background to this is that the Ashaninka tribe of the continually threatened Peruvian rainforest offered their land up for sponsorship through Cool Earth, who employ local people to help the tribe sustain their own land so that they do not have to succumb to the offers of loggers. With an estimated 5.4 million acres being destroyed a year, the situation is beyond dire and I am so happy that we were able to help to conserve the rainforest, which is one of the most complex ecosystems on earth and houses 50-70% of all life forms on this beautiful, delicate planet.

We screened the environmental documentary 'Home', directed by French photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand (of the 'Earth from Above' images), which is a mind-blowing visual account of the dark brink towards which we have pushed our world. Tickets costing £4 (plus two free cookies…) were made on recycled paper, and the posters painted on old newspaper supplements. To help further promote the event, a wishing tree was created in the Main Corridor.

After a few days of ticket selling, the event took place and I was thrilled and moved to see the number of passionate people who are interested in changing their situation and the situations of others. Generous donations of cupcakes were made by the lovely staff at the Hummingbird Bakery, Martha Swift of the Primrose Bakery, and Waitrose, who gave us the slightly healthier apples and tangerines. The wonderful Parents' Association also baked brownies and cookies, which were much appreciated. After the event, we raffled off prizes: one signed cookbook donated by the Hummingbird, one signed cookbook donated by Martha Swift, and ten free French lessons donated by Pierrette Goletto. In total we raised over £600 pounds. I have just been informed by Jemma Woodman of Cool Earth that this will allow the College to sponsor almost ten and a half acres of rainforest. Thank you all so much for your support.

'In the end we will conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught.'

(Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist)

Posted: 22 Jan 2010