WEBVTT - One Singapore school and its students walk the talk on sustainability and fighting climate change | EP 44 0:00:00.090 --> 0:00:05.939 The following is a C and a podcast. I'm Jamie home, 0:00:05.940 --> 0:00:09.360 and thanks for listening to the climate conversations. Today's episode 0:00:09.360 --> 0:00:11.760 is kind of special. I speak to three very important 0:00:11.760 --> 0:00:15.240 people two students and a teacher from Company Secondary School, 0:00:15.450 --> 0:00:18.020 and we'll talk about what schools are doing, what students 0:00:18.030 --> 0:00:20.369 and cells are doing and what the youngest of Singaporeans 0:00:20.370 --> 0:00:23.550 among us really think of climate change. But while schools 0:00:23.550 --> 0:00:26.760 go green, what about students and teachers? How do they 0:00:26.760 --> 0:00:29.160 see climate change and how can they prepare for it? 0:00:29.190 --> 0:00:34.320 Very different world from parents. My three guests are secondary 0:00:34.320 --> 0:00:38.580 students Alexander Traa and Pratibha Naidu and a teacher, Mrs. 0:00:38.580 --> 0:00:40.290 Preeti Sherry. Welcome everyone. 0:00:40.650 --> 0:00:42.120 Hello. Oh, hi. Hello. 0:00:42.270 --> 0:00:44.340 Hi, all of you. I like their party by the 0:00:44.340 --> 0:00:46.440 first question is going to be for you guys, OK? 0:00:46.710 --> 0:00:50.250 Tell me what climate change means to each of you. 0:00:50.490 --> 0:00:52.650 What does it look like? The future when you think 0:00:52.650 --> 0:00:55.230 about the future and climate change, what comes to mind? 0:00:55.530 --> 0:00:58.530 And also, when was it you first really began to 0:00:58.530 --> 0:01:01.590 think about climate change as something serious that needs to 0:01:01.590 --> 0:01:03.690 be addressed and needs to be talked about and what 0:01:03.690 --> 0:01:06.330 you guys could do about it? Alex, maybe you first. 0:01:06.569 --> 0:01:11.220 Climate change to me is something very serious. I first 0:01:11.220 --> 0:01:14.550 learned about it in primary school. I was originally in 0:01:14.550 --> 0:01:17.309 science class, in science class. I learned a lot about 0:01:17.310 --> 0:01:20.700 the environment. To me, climate change is the change of 0:01:20.700 --> 0:01:24.509 environment in the world and climate change. Global warming is 0:01:24.510 --> 0:01:28.400 also increasing and the temperature in the Earth is also increasing. 0:01:28.410 --> 0:01:31.800 And I think it's very sad because something serious is 0:01:31.800 --> 0:01:34.740 happening to our world. What I can do as a 0:01:34.920 --> 0:01:38.700 student is to advocate more and speak out more on 0:01:38.700 --> 0:01:42.270 this issue. One way I can do this is to 0:01:42.360 --> 0:01:46.110 educate people, and I can do it through my closest people, 0:01:46.110 --> 0:01:50.520 like my family members and my friends. For example, my 0:01:50.520 --> 0:01:55.050 grandparents usually feature on the air conditioner at night because 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:58.710 it helps them to sleep more comfortably. But air conditioners 0:01:58.740 --> 0:02:01.920 are quite harmful to the environment because I've learned in 0:02:01.920 --> 0:02:07.740 chemistry that excellence in air conditioners can produce chlorofluorocarbons and 0:02:07.740 --> 0:02:12.000 cause harm to the environment. And my grandparents actually listen 0:02:12.010 --> 0:02:15.840 to me and they have reduced the usage of air conditioners. 0:02:16.020 --> 0:02:18.090 They only do it on a really hot night because 0:02:18.100 --> 0:02:22.460 Singapore is really hot because it's a tropical island. You? Yeah, 0:02:22.460 --> 0:02:25.140 good point. In one week, they only use it around 0:02:25.230 --> 0:02:28.200 about four times instead of every day. 0:02:28.419 --> 0:02:31.200 OK, I'm going to ask Pratibha now, when did you 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:33.810 start thinking about this? I mean, Alex raised many good points. 0:02:33.810 --> 0:02:35.700 I'm going to jump into that later on, maybe. But 0:02:35.700 --> 0:02:38.400 you start us off as well. When you first started 0:02:38.490 --> 0:02:39.450 thinking about this, 0:02:39.600 --> 0:02:43.510 I feel like climate change is generally in primary schools. 0:02:43.919 --> 0:02:46.350 My teachers usually talked about it a lot. You know, 0:02:46.350 --> 0:02:48.270 it's just something we all know about, but I don't 0:02:48.389 --> 0:02:51.450 know enough about it. But I found out more about 0:02:51.450 --> 0:02:54.950 how serious it actually is because as a green ambassador, 0:02:54.960 --> 0:02:58.049 I get like many opportunities to learn about the environment 0:02:58.410 --> 0:03:00.870 and know how to control me all the ways. But 0:03:00.870 --> 0:03:04.970 I never really thought about how climate change might actually be. 0:03:05.430 --> 0:03:09.780 Until a few months ago, I joined the climate webinar 0:03:09.780 --> 0:03:12.780 on nine. Not doing it for fun because honestly, I 0:03:12.780 --> 0:03:15.269 just wanted it in my own end of year results. 0:03:15.510 --> 0:03:19.620 But then I joined it in a different perspectives on 0:03:19.620 --> 0:03:23.820 the climate change. You sure from different experts. And it's 0:03:23.820 --> 0:03:26.460 when I realized how serious actually is because they were 0:03:26.460 --> 0:03:31.170 talking about how the increase in global temperatures is not 0:03:31.169 --> 0:03:34.169 a lot. Issues for Singapore, such as raising water levels, 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.740 increase in rainfall. That's why there's been a lot of 0:03:37.740 --> 0:03:41.370 rainfall recently and it made me think is quite serious 0:03:41.370 --> 0:03:44.760 and we should actually take more steps to help with 0:03:44.760 --> 0:03:47.340 the issue. I feel like a lot of people my 0:03:47.340 --> 0:03:50.970 age like you or people like new students, they think 0:03:50.970 --> 0:03:53.460 that being your plot you won't have as much of 0:03:53.460 --> 0:03:57.720 an impact as like the new water like Xylem, what 0:03:57.720 --> 0:04:01.500 they do to help educate the situation. I feel that 0:04:01.980 --> 0:04:06.180 the the Echo just influencing and just like knowledge about 0:04:06.180 --> 0:04:09.810 it is very important because I respect awareness is that 0:04:09.810 --> 0:04:12.990 it really does ignorance and Alexis is spreading through his 0:04:12.990 --> 0:04:15.300 friends and family. I feel like that's very important as 0:04:15.300 --> 0:04:18.960 well because our family, we all use the same household. 0:04:18.990 --> 0:04:21.420 And if all of us grew up with the issue 0:04:21.430 --> 0:04:26.520 and reduce our overall carbon footprint and the carbon emissions 0:04:26.610 --> 0:04:29.159 was like, it really does help, and it should be 0:04:29.160 --> 0:04:33.330 taken more seriously by, especially in youth, because our generation 0:04:33.330 --> 0:04:37.350 is the next generation of helping us globally to help 0:04:37.350 --> 0:04:40.500 solve issues such as this one, because I'm all creative 0:04:40.500 --> 0:04:43.620 and I'm more like open to like serious issues like this. 0:04:43.860 --> 0:04:47.040 Alex managed to convince his grandparents to use their cordless. 0:04:47.040 --> 0:04:49.890 That's very impressive. How about you guys? What sort of 0:04:50.339 --> 0:04:54.000 lifestyle changes have you done for yourselves in terms of 0:04:54.000 --> 0:04:56.909 your use of aircon or whatever it is? And then 0:04:57.060 --> 0:05:00.420 do you use that as an example to then? Fluenz, 0:05:00.420 --> 0:05:02.430 as I say it, like Alex did with his grandparents. 0:05:02.730 --> 0:05:05.880 What else do you think? Youth and in general, Singaporeans 0:05:05.880 --> 0:05:06.690 can do more 0:05:07.050 --> 0:05:11.260 like Alex Cohen, a lot rather lost in 0.2sec with 0:05:11.290 --> 0:05:13.880 a high crime rate. I used to use my phone 0:05:13.990 --> 0:05:18.330 and it seems like, OK, cool. But then I think 0:05:18.330 --> 0:05:21.720 after I learned about the seriousness of it, I minimized 0:05:21.720 --> 0:05:24.089 my use of acorn. And just like they're not often 0:05:24.180 --> 0:05:27.950 my grandparents. I was passionate about watching the news. So 0:05:28.020 --> 0:05:30.330 and in news, as part of a lot of it's 0:05:30.330 --> 0:05:32.460 about the climate, you know, like the melting of the 0:05:32.460 --> 0:05:38.270 ice and floods in Japan and Western Europe. So my grandmother, 0:05:38.279 --> 0:05:40.020 she told me to like just every time she was 0:05:40.020 --> 0:05:43.440 constantly nagging me to just off the lights, the all 0:05:43.690 --> 0:05:46.950 your electricity around because of know what's happening in the 0:05:46.950 --> 0:05:49.799 world now. Thanks to a few months back, I took 0:05:49.800 --> 0:05:54.000 part in this sustainable habits competition that was happening in 0:05:54.000 --> 0:05:56.880 my school. I actually learned a lot from doing that. 0:05:56.880 --> 0:06:00.000 We had to draw a poster of poetry about the 0:06:00.000 --> 0:06:03.120 climate and sustainable habits that I don't think you win 0:06:03.300 --> 0:06:06.659 anything and get a first or second place or a robot. 0:06:07.170 --> 0:06:10.070 I got a certificate of appreciation and it's open and 0:06:10.620 --> 0:06:13.900 I was with metal straws really like the metal straws. 0:06:13.970 --> 0:06:17.490 So I stopped using plastic straws so that every time 0:06:17.490 --> 0:06:19.950 I go out, I would carry this metal so it's 0:06:19.950 --> 0:06:22.370 not in my bag. So when I go to buy 0:06:22.380 --> 0:06:25.409 a drawing, I'll use the metal straw. Instead of thinking 0:06:25.410 --> 0:06:29.520 of plastic straws from the shop at home. See my 0:06:29.520 --> 0:06:33.080 parents like you are passionate about the environment because you 0:06:33.089 --> 0:06:36.630 usually try not to waste anything. We try as much 0:06:36.630 --> 0:06:40.500 as possible to recycle, sell out all our cooking, like 0:06:40.500 --> 0:06:42.719 all bottles or whatever. We try to make sure they're 0:06:42.720 --> 0:06:45.840 going to go in. And then we also reuse the 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:49.570 plastic bricks that we get from the supermarket as like 0:06:49.740 --> 0:06:54.480 the ones for our rubbish bins over. And now you 0:06:54.480 --> 0:06:57.979 start bringing tote bags so that it's easier for us 0:06:57.990 --> 0:06:58.800 to carry stuff. 0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:02.610 So, Alex, you know, from what Pratibha is talking about, 0:07:02.610 --> 0:07:06.030 do you think her family is unique? Do you think 0:07:06.390 --> 0:07:11.220 more Singapore is less like that, you know, less environmentally conscious? 0:07:11.580 --> 0:07:14.220 How about your family and your friends? Do you see 0:07:14.220 --> 0:07:16.260 other people out there whom you think actually could do 0:07:16.260 --> 0:07:18.660 better and do more like party bus family, you think? 0:07:18.720 --> 0:07:22.200 I think our family is doing really well because not 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:26.700 many people are as investor in the news as our family, 0:07:26.700 --> 0:07:30.900 because she mentioned about how her grandparents are really passionate 0:07:30.900 --> 0:07:35.010 about keeping up with the news it's related to the environment. 0:07:35.340 --> 0:07:38.250 And I think that's really important because many people are 0:07:38.250 --> 0:07:42.570 not aware of the environmental changes and the climate change 0:07:42.570 --> 0:07:47.780 and how many human activities are affecting our environment. But 0:07:47.790 --> 0:07:50.790 through the news, it can spread awareness to more people 0:07:50.790 --> 0:07:55.920 and it helps to raise consciousness about conserving the environment. 0:07:55.920 --> 0:07:59.340 And I feel that many Singaporeans should also pay attention 0:07:59.340 --> 0:08:03.210 to news because the news can educate many people on 0:08:03.810 --> 0:08:08.790 environmental knowledge and how to conserve the environment. I also 0:08:08.940 --> 0:08:11.610 wish to keep out of the news more often. I 0:08:11.610 --> 0:08:15.810 do sometimes, but because of my busy lifestyle, I don't 0:08:15.810 --> 0:08:18.900 really have much time to do so. But I will 0:08:18.900 --> 0:08:22.830 try to make time sometimes to keep up the news 0:08:22.830 --> 0:08:26.850 and my geography teacher. So Cherie also shares a lot 0:08:26.850 --> 0:08:30.090 about the news. She follows news around the world to 0:08:30.090 --> 0:08:33.600 our good, and I think that's really helpful because it 0:08:33.610 --> 0:08:36.300 shows about many things that's happening around the world, such 0:08:36.300 --> 0:08:40.650 as volcanic eruptions, tourism, and I think it benefits us 0:08:40.650 --> 0:08:43.079 because we gain more environmental knowledge on it. 0:08:43.450 --> 0:08:45.210 I'm going to ask the two of you one more 0:08:45.210 --> 0:08:48.690 question before I get to musician real pretty. And since 0:08:48.690 --> 0:08:51.090 you raised the subject, and maybe this is where she'll 0:08:51.090 --> 0:08:53.520 jump in later too, right? So, you know, you guys 0:08:53.520 --> 0:08:57.750 on set three and share your geography teacher. I presume 0:08:57.750 --> 0:09:00.180 you learn most of the stuff we are talking about 0:09:00.420 --> 0:09:03.390 through geography, maybe some science to maybe some chemistry, as 0:09:03.390 --> 0:09:06.510 you say, but you talk about the HFCs since you're 0:09:06.510 --> 0:09:11.280 so interested. Do you think maybe schools and we can 0:09:11.280 --> 0:09:13.620 teach climate change differently or do you think is actually 0:09:13.620 --> 0:09:16.200 quite all right now? If I were to give you 0:09:16.200 --> 0:09:18.540 a magic wand to say, Hey, let's try and teach 0:09:18.540 --> 0:09:21.570 climate change in an entirely different way? Do you think 0:09:21.570 --> 0:09:24.240 that can be done? Would that excite you? 0:09:24.780 --> 0:09:28.020 What this could mean for my experience in peace, as 0:09:28.410 --> 0:09:31.290 the school has that in many ways that they try 0:09:31.290 --> 0:09:36.510 to educate the students about climate so through different exhibitions. 0:09:36.570 --> 0:09:39.240 My school has exhibitions a lot. And one of the 0:09:39.240 --> 0:09:43.830 exhibitions set up by the sheriff, she wants attendees in 0:09:43.830 --> 0:09:46.750 our school that will place like near the walk. We 0:09:47.040 --> 0:09:50.500 wouldn't walk by this lady with the class, any anything educational, 0:09:50.520 --> 0:09:53.310 but let you know about the horrors about global warming 0:09:53.309 --> 0:09:56.340 and its effects. Any of those and anybody who doesn't 0:09:56.340 --> 0:09:58.590 mean we have a lot of lessons, but they tell 0:09:58.590 --> 0:10:04.290 us more about impacts. Climate change, greenhouse gases in subjects 0:10:04.500 --> 0:10:08.460 like chemistry, geography, there are so many in the future 0:10:08.460 --> 0:10:11.760 because none about what would you do? Plus, we actually 0:10:11.770 --> 0:10:14.760 get very light sensitive to these kind of topics, and 0:10:14.760 --> 0:10:17.220 it's not like a regular digital class. We tend to 0:10:17.220 --> 0:10:20.340 talk about environment and all that, and we talk about 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:24.870 it in poetry and fun stuff. And I like schools 0:10:24.870 --> 0:10:27.599 are actually doing really well right now. But I feel 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:30.929 like there should be more hands on activities because I 0:10:30.929 --> 0:10:34.710 remember primary school is quite long ago. My classes like 0:10:34.980 --> 0:10:38.040 to plant a tree outside of our school and I 0:10:38.040 --> 0:10:42.630 really enjoy the experience. Like, like now in secondary school, especially, 0:10:42.630 --> 0:10:46.730 this would be more hands on activities. According to the 0:10:46.920 --> 0:10:50.400 current restrictions. It will really help students get the sense 0:10:50.400 --> 0:10:54.430 of nature and understand actually how beautiful nature is and 0:10:54.429 --> 0:10:57.330 that how it is really important to us. Because even 0:10:57.330 --> 0:11:01.530 though they educationally we're learning about your experience really does 0:11:01.530 --> 0:11:03.460 make a change in our lives. 0:11:04.500 --> 0:11:07.560 Very good. I'll make sure Minister Chan hears this. OK, Alex, 0:11:07.800 --> 0:11:09.780 how about you? Do you have a take on that? 0:11:10.679 --> 0:11:14.550 It's not pretty, but it's really included in many subjects 0:11:14.550 --> 0:11:18.720 that we take. I really appreciate that because if you 0:11:18.720 --> 0:11:22.199 do environmental knowledge the water, and it definitely should be 0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:24.210 covered in a lot of subjects that we take so 0:11:24.210 --> 0:11:26.939 that we can apply them in our daily life. I 0:11:26.940 --> 0:11:32.970 learned about environmental knowledge in chemistry, biology, geography, and one 0:11:32.970 --> 0:11:36.730 example is in chemistry. I've learned the carbon cycle is 0:11:36.730 --> 0:11:40.390 the mechanism to maintain a level of comfort outside analysts 0:11:40.390 --> 0:11:44.100 fear and to lessons like this and gain more knowledge 0:11:44.100 --> 0:11:49.290 because information like this can really be obtained so easily. 0:11:49.290 --> 0:11:52.140 And I think through schools and the education system, it's 0:11:52.140 --> 0:11:55.559 a lot easier to obtain this knowledge because it's presented 0:11:55.559 --> 0:11:58.290 to us by our teachers and we tend to remember 0:11:58.350 --> 0:12:02.010 them more easily because in exams, you have to remember 0:12:02.010 --> 0:12:06.569 all this information anyways. It's quite efficiently costly to our brains, 0:12:06.570 --> 0:12:10.140 and it reminds us on how important the environment is 0:12:10.140 --> 0:12:12.600 and what we can do to help the environment. It's 0:12:12.600 --> 0:12:16.349 a good idea to cover so much environmental knowledge to 0:12:16.350 --> 0:12:22.320 the syllabus. The amount of environmental knowledge, including the different subjects, 0:12:22.320 --> 0:12:26.400 is quite equally balanced, but I think more chapters should 0:12:26.400 --> 0:12:31.589 be included because there are more environmental knowledge being presented 0:12:31.590 --> 0:12:35.280 to students and as part of our hands on activities 0:12:35.550 --> 0:12:39.750 can be conducted to assist the EIA projects because students 0:12:39.750 --> 0:12:42.410 really learn about a lot of things from the EIA 0:12:42.420 --> 0:12:46.110 projects and these lessons because they get to bond people 0:12:46.320 --> 0:12:49.290 and bonding, these people will make them have a sense 0:12:49.290 --> 0:12:53.190 of happiness, and they'll better remember the activities more because 0:12:53.190 --> 0:12:55.590 of the people that they bond with, and they also 0:12:55.590 --> 0:12:59.030 remember the information that they get from the activities. 0:12:59.820 --> 0:13:02.460 It sounds as if you guys are doing really amazing 0:13:02.460 --> 0:13:06.569 things and especially at your school now, Peter, you've been 0:13:06.570 --> 0:13:09.630 in high school for, what, six years? Tell us how 0:13:09.630 --> 0:13:12.390 this all started, and it sounds as if this has 0:13:12.390 --> 0:13:14.610 been in the works for quite a while, wolf in 0:13:14.610 --> 0:13:18.359 the curriculum, but also in key activities. Give us a 0:13:18.360 --> 0:13:21.240 bit of background into how this started does seem as 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:22.530 if you are making quite a big impact. 0:13:22.740 --> 0:13:25.440 It's like a cliché to say, you know, it takes 0:13:25.440 --> 0:13:28.480 a village to raise a child. Our teacher doesn't exist. 0:13:28.710 --> 0:13:33.060 It's really role modeling. So what happens is the teachers 0:13:33.059 --> 0:13:35.910 in the science department, the geography department, all of them 0:13:35.910 --> 0:13:40.380 have the curriculum to run, but they bring into the curriculum. 0:13:40.620 --> 0:13:44.070 A lot of perspectives be shared with the children, their 0:13:44.070 --> 0:13:47.640 belief systems. I think then we realize that it makes 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:51.179 an impact on the children. So if we see that 0:13:51.690 --> 0:13:53.729 exactly what we doing in the school, I think we 0:13:53.730 --> 0:13:56.939 started off, you know, everybody who will are doing their part, 0:13:57.300 --> 0:14:00.120 but we didn't really know what each departments were doing. 0:14:00.540 --> 0:14:04.140 And over the years we saw many opportunities to collaborate. 0:14:04.710 --> 0:14:07.420 So the science used to do their thing, the geography 0:14:07.420 --> 0:14:10.230 used to do the thing and the literature department, the 0:14:10.230 --> 0:14:13.290 music department used to do their thing. But as we 0:14:13.290 --> 0:14:16.319 moved along, as we work together and as we showcase 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:19.920 students work, we saw tons of opportunities to collaborate. So 0:14:19.920 --> 0:14:22.860 this year, when we actually had to process Green Week, 0:14:23.610 --> 0:14:27.780 Earth Day, what we actually did is we collaborated between 0:14:27.780 --> 0:14:32.470 the departments, right? So the kids got to experience environmental education, 0:14:32.470 --> 0:14:36.220 not need the hot knowledge of us and things, but 0:14:36.290 --> 0:14:40.260 also the softer things to music, to art, to conversations. 0:14:40.860 --> 0:14:45.270 So all these things, actually, because it's repeated across and 0:14:45.270 --> 0:14:50.100 is the daily experience of the students, somehow sinks into them. 0:14:50.520 --> 0:14:54.030 It makes a week into their hearts, right? Had knowledge 0:14:54.420 --> 0:14:55.430 we into their hearts. 0:14:55.440 --> 0:14:58.300 Yeah, yeah. I mean, this really sounds quite enlightened and 0:14:58.300 --> 0:15:00.190 it's so glad. To hear that you've been able to 0:15:00.190 --> 0:15:04.030 sort of embed all of this into so many different subjects, 0:15:04.030 --> 0:15:06.100 and there is the common theme to it, which really 0:15:06.100 --> 0:15:09.400 makes the kids excited about it. But frankly speaking from 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:12.730 a teacher, do you ever see that there are offs 0:15:12.730 --> 0:15:15.100 and do you feel pressure to keep with the regular curriculum? 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:18.040 Let's say that, you know, sometimes still needs to be covered. 0:15:18.820 --> 0:15:20.560 Are you able to marry the two quite well? 0:15:20.980 --> 0:15:25.000 There is no pressure. There is no pressure. The subjects itself, 0:15:25.000 --> 0:15:29.620 the curriculum itself lends itself to topics on sustainability. So 0:15:29.620 --> 0:15:31.930 when they actually studied the science, we're not talking to 0:15:31.930 --> 0:15:35.770 the children and extended the shows, the company's chemistry and 0:15:35.770 --> 0:15:39.310 how we learned about carbon and methane, right? Alex learned 0:15:39.310 --> 0:15:43.360 about methane to the LP, which is our school applied 0:15:43.360 --> 0:15:48.280 learning program, Creative Engineering. The kids actually learned about UN 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:51.490 development goals, and one of them was actually energy and water. 0:15:51.760 --> 0:15:54.760 So there is really no pressure to. I must do this. 0:15:55.390 --> 0:15:57.940 So to meet the exam needs, I think it can 0:15:57.940 --> 0:16:01.060 be really naturally done. And the for example, the jiofi 0:16:01.060 --> 0:16:03.850 syllabus in step one is to talk about rainforest books, 0:16:03.850 --> 0:16:07.270 about flooding. So for our students, it's like, where's our forests? 0:16:07.270 --> 0:16:10.210 We don't have forests in Singapore. So that's an opportunity 0:16:10.210 --> 0:16:12.820 when we bring in the exhibits like Pratibha talked about 0:16:13.090 --> 0:16:15.520 that Singapore is actually an urban forest and where we 0:16:15.520 --> 0:16:18.670 actually plant and then the kids see the relevance of 0:16:18.670 --> 0:16:21.280 some of the things we are doing in Singapore with 0:16:21.280 --> 0:16:23.470 some of the things that are happening out in the world. 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:28.350 I think it's actually a very beautiful fit and no pressure. 0:16:28.390 --> 0:16:31.330 In fact, as a teacher myself, I really enjoy carrying 0:16:31.330 --> 0:16:33.580 out the lessons and the conversations we have in the 0:16:33.580 --> 0:16:34.870 classroom with the students. 0:16:40.370 --> 0:16:42.320 I also want to talk a little bit more about 0:16:42.320 --> 0:16:44.330 the school itself in some of the things that you're 0:16:44.330 --> 0:16:47.960 actually doing, you know, various smart fans I hear or 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:52.070 solar panels, you're also partnering with Japanese Town Council, right 0:16:52.070 --> 0:16:55.250 to do some food composting. I would imagine this is 0:16:55.250 --> 0:16:58.700 changing the way that students think that it's all students, right? 0:16:58.700 --> 0:17:01.130 Not just those who take geography, for example. What do 0:17:01.130 --> 0:17:04.760 you think has the biggest impact? Is there one initiative 0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:06.500 that you're really, really proud of or do they all 0:17:06.500 --> 0:17:08.030 add up together for you? 0:17:08.540 --> 0:17:11.359 They all add up. So in our school, we take 0:17:11.359 --> 0:17:15.020 the A's approach to it, to the East, meaning authentic 0:17:15.020 --> 0:17:19.010 expression and collaborative. So when we plan our activities, whether 0:17:19.010 --> 0:17:22.790 it's cyber wellness or environment, education or mental health, we're 0:17:22.790 --> 0:17:25.580 very conscious of the approach in how we do it. 0:17:26.000 --> 0:17:29.330 We talk about working with partners and partners is very 0:17:29.330 --> 0:17:32.150 important for schools. So let me just share a bit 0:17:32.150 --> 0:17:36.260 about the tie up with Tenctonese Town Council when they 0:17:36.260 --> 0:17:39.470 approached the school because the vertical farm was just behind 0:17:39.470 --> 0:17:43.700 the school. They have a tilapia on analytical farm, so 0:17:43.700 --> 0:17:46.159 they came into the school and a part of the 0:17:46.160 --> 0:17:48.860 school I shared with the students health. Food waste from 0:17:48.859 --> 0:17:51.800 the canteen or even from their homes can be actually 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:56.360 fed to the actual fly and how the excreta can 0:17:56.359 --> 0:17:59.449 actually be used to fertilize the vegetables and also the 0:17:59.450 --> 0:18:02.270 larvae that can be fed to the fishes. And we 0:18:02.270 --> 0:18:05.720 also had an exhibition run by a company or toilet. 0:18:06.020 --> 0:18:07.970 And when the student saw it, you know, it was 0:18:07.970 --> 0:18:11.600 very eye opening. So we talk about authentic, experiential. After 0:18:11.600 --> 0:18:14.330 that talk, we had the exhibition and in fact, it 0:18:14.330 --> 0:18:19.280 motivated my teacher and for other students to find out more. 0:18:19.670 --> 0:18:21.859 So what they did was they went to find out more. 0:18:21.859 --> 0:18:26.119 They visited the site and did a bit more research, 0:18:26.119 --> 0:18:28.730 and the plan is actually to share this. I was 0:18:28.880 --> 0:18:31.850 forced to share it with our one. So when we 0:18:31.850 --> 0:18:35.270 actually bring in partners, we learn as the school community, 0:18:35.270 --> 0:18:39.710 teachers learn, students learn how canteens. Stallholders also learn because 0:18:39.710 --> 0:18:42.980 they are part of that foot race, right? Even our 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.130 own Emlen, because he helps us coordinate so we learn 0:18:46.130 --> 0:18:49.550 as a learning community and. And then what is very 0:18:49.550 --> 0:18:53.600 beautiful that there are students will get excited who find 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:56.810 out more. They teach it to the next year. One. 0:18:57.170 --> 0:19:00.800 So it's circular. So what in the process we do 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:04.160 is we bring and pull more people along. So that's 0:19:04.160 --> 0:19:07.370 the school we really appreciate, and value is our partnership 0:19:07.369 --> 0:19:12.439 with external community because they have the expertise. So whenever possible, 0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:16.010 we try and bring them in so that the enthusiasm 0:19:16.010 --> 0:19:19.879 of students so they hear from people apart from teachers. 0:19:20.630 --> 0:19:25.280 How easy or difficult do you think this is going 0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:27.889 to be to replicate to other schools? I mean, you 0:19:27.890 --> 0:19:32.119 guys sound really, really forward thinking really ahead of the curve. 0:19:33.020 --> 0:19:35.930 If you look at other schools in other neighborhoods. What 0:19:35.930 --> 0:19:38.720 is the X Factor that you think you guys had 0:19:38.720 --> 0:19:44.440 at Epenesa Secondary that allows you to do this X Factor? 0:19:44.450 --> 0:19:49.100 I think X factors exists in the whole teaching fraternity. 0:19:49.100 --> 0:19:51.830 There are so many sparks out there when we started 0:19:51.830 --> 0:19:55.550 and it's really started by my colleagues in company say many, 0:19:55.550 --> 0:19:58.429 many years, even before I came in, after we have 0:19:58.430 --> 0:20:00.680 done some of the things we have done, it actually 0:20:00.680 --> 0:20:03.830 got us more excited. So tied up with a friend 0:20:04.010 --> 0:20:07.490 in Single-Sex and because our kids and we we started 0:20:07.490 --> 0:20:10.280 talking about this more. I think they realized and we 0:20:10.280 --> 0:20:13.370 realized they wanted more experience. And this is in line 0:20:13.369 --> 0:20:16.820 with how we plan our curriculum, give them experience, let 0:20:16.820 --> 0:20:20.750 them touch and let Alexa feel need to be in nature. 0:20:20.869 --> 0:20:24.290 So we actually went to us on All-SEC to share 0:20:24.290 --> 0:20:27.470 with us how we actually started their garden, their farm 0:20:27.470 --> 0:20:30.710 and how they grew vegetables and how they donated to 0:20:30.710 --> 0:20:33.890 the community. So there are a lot of beautiful things 0:20:33.890 --> 0:20:36.859 happening in schools, and that's a good thing because then 0:20:36.859 --> 0:20:39.649 we learn from each other. We all have different strengths. 0:20:40.100 --> 0:20:43.040 Being the same is actually not a good idea, but 0:20:43.040 --> 0:20:46.370 being organic and trying out and then learning from each 0:20:46.369 --> 0:20:50.210 other based on our student needs to profile our student interests. 0:20:50.510 --> 0:20:54.109 I think that is a strength. So I wouldn't quite 0:20:54.109 --> 0:20:57.560 like the photocopying machine, kind of. But really, let's try. 0:20:57.560 --> 0:21:01.129 Let's try, and I am grateful to have that community 0:21:01.130 --> 0:21:02.710 of teachers who say, Yeah, let's try. 0:21:03.290 --> 0:21:06.350 I'm going to bring Alexa and Pratibha back into the conversation. 0:21:06.350 --> 0:21:07.940 And I mean, a lot of what we've spoken about 0:21:07.940 --> 0:21:10.820 so far is really positive and really nice to hear. 0:21:11.270 --> 0:21:14.480 But let's talk about habits and the way things actually 0:21:14.480 --> 0:21:17.900 are in Singapore. I'm sure you guys, as you look around, 0:21:17.900 --> 0:21:21.800 you may see poor environmental practices, you know, things that 0:21:21.800 --> 0:21:25.340 we could really do better on both as individuals, you know, me, 0:21:25.340 --> 0:21:28.159 you as as well as a larger country, you know, 0:21:28.320 --> 0:21:31.610 as an economy, as whatever, name me, one or two 0:21:31.609 --> 0:21:34.250 things that you think we really should either do better 0:21:34.250 --> 0:21:38.150 or just stop doing some of these really bad environmental practices. 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:43.419 My. I always see this because when I go down 0:21:43.420 --> 0:21:46.590 for like a war river, I always see many people 0:21:46.600 --> 0:21:49.600 in through. It's a lot of people dithering in my house, 0:21:49.840 --> 0:21:53.150 even if there's a new secretary alive for things that 0:21:53.150 --> 0:21:56.500 you're right there and people are still constantly finding ways 0:21:56.500 --> 0:21:58.840 to be thrown to the floor. And this is where 0:21:58.840 --> 0:22:02.630 you always need the initiative. So I think many South 0:22:02.650 --> 0:22:05.560 Koreans have a trash and like people, we're doing many 0:22:05.980 --> 0:22:08.560 things you don't do this country, our it all the penis. 0:22:08.560 --> 0:22:11.410 I would agree it wasn't winter. We can't just put 0:22:11.410 --> 0:22:15.730 all of the responsibility on them. Singapore is our country 0:22:15.730 --> 0:22:18.640 and we shouldn't do it ourselves. And it is all 0:22:18.640 --> 0:22:22.070 about the policy and is the ways that us, you know, 0:22:22.080 --> 0:22:25.630 always see like people going the know, dispose their trash 0:22:25.630 --> 0:22:28.720 properly because I always see the recycling bins in my 0:22:28.720 --> 0:22:31.940 house are always full and it's all full of stuff 0:22:31.940 --> 0:22:35.170 that they recycle. You know, people, you know, want more 0:22:35.170 --> 0:22:39.370 aware of what they recycle and how they really like 0:22:39.369 --> 0:22:41.710 the issue properly do what you want to do if 0:22:41.710 --> 0:22:43.360 they want. And I hope the Roman, at least the 0:22:43.359 --> 0:22:45.250 best they can do is do it the right way, 0:22:45.609 --> 0:22:48.369 especially e-waste. You know, Chris, e-waste is very hard to 0:22:48.369 --> 0:22:51.550 dispose of burning it like how we burn plastic. It 0:22:51.550 --> 0:22:55.389 was just really a lot of carbon emissions which contribute 0:22:55.390 --> 0:22:58.870 to greenhouse gases. So I feel like if people do 0:22:58.869 --> 0:23:02.560 their part properly, we should be more aware of the action, 0:23:03.070 --> 0:23:06.040 especially if they should really consider the impact it really 0:23:06.040 --> 0:23:10.149 has not only on Singapore but actually globally. Because climate 0:23:10.150 --> 0:23:12.820 change is not really something that affects Nepal is a 0:23:12.820 --> 0:23:16.180 global issue, and we should really be more aware. 0:23:17.050 --> 0:23:19.840 Very nice. Well, since you raised the issue of e-waste, 0:23:19.840 --> 0:23:22.700 I'm going to ask you and Alex then related to this. 0:23:23.260 --> 0:23:25.750 Are you able to then tell your friends and your 0:23:25.750 --> 0:23:28.780 family and yourselves, you know, let's not change our phones 0:23:28.780 --> 0:23:31.179 that regularly, you know, just because there's a new model 0:23:31.180 --> 0:23:34.240 of a phone or change our laptops. You think everyone 0:23:34.240 --> 0:23:36.790 can do a little bit more in really changing their 0:23:36.790 --> 0:23:37.450 habits there? 0:23:38.000 --> 0:23:42.360 Alex, I agree on e-waste and she did mention this, 0:23:42.369 --> 0:23:44.950 but you're also a great ambassador of my class last year, 0:23:44.950 --> 0:23:48.430 and she gave us showing on e-waste. And I still 0:23:48.430 --> 0:23:53.440 remember the details that you gave. And I think what 0:23:53.440 --> 0:23:58.510 really struck me is the consequences of e-waste sharing of e-waste. 0:23:58.520 --> 0:24:01.600 I learned that us is very hard to dispose of, 0:24:01.600 --> 0:24:04.930 as you said. So I am more aware of the 0:24:04.930 --> 0:24:09.730 electronics that I dispose off now. For example, if my episodes, 0:24:09.730 --> 0:24:12.160 I suppose I wouldn't just throw them in the rubbish 0:24:12.160 --> 0:24:15.070 bin as I did before, because in the past I 0:24:15.070 --> 0:24:18.040 really didn't know that throwing off electronics could lead to 0:24:18.040 --> 0:24:20.890 global warming and carbon emissions, and I didn't know that 0:24:20.890 --> 0:24:24.520 it it could lead to such a big issue. But 0:24:24.520 --> 0:24:27.730 now that I know about this issue, I actually am 0:24:27.730 --> 0:24:31.359 more careful of how it is both my e-waste. I 0:24:31.359 --> 0:24:34.719 know that they can be recycled now. So on the 0:24:34.720 --> 0:24:37.990 day that the green ambassadors were collecting e-waste, I also 0:24:37.990 --> 0:24:40.719 tried to play a part in it and I got 0:24:40.720 --> 0:24:44.080 some of my e-waste to be recycled. 0:24:44.470 --> 0:24:46.900 Very nice. OK. Besides e-waste, that is there is that 0:24:46.900 --> 0:24:49.930 habit that you think Singapore and Singapore have, that it's 0:24:49.930 --> 0:24:54.189 really environmentally unfriendly that you really want to change. And 0:24:54.190 --> 0:24:56.380 if you could change overnight, what would it be? 0:24:57.060 --> 0:25:01.030 Although it's also a very precious and limited resource. And 0:25:01.030 --> 0:25:04.780 I think that many people really just ignore the existence 0:25:04.780 --> 0:25:07.389 of water because they think that or, you know, water 0:25:07.390 --> 0:25:10.040 can just come out of that dance and they are sorry, 0:25:10.450 --> 0:25:13.270 just just like that. It's very easy, but they don't 0:25:13.270 --> 0:25:16.419 know that it's a very limited resource and also very valuable. 0:25:16.720 --> 0:25:20.230 And I was one of them who didn't really pay 0:25:20.230 --> 0:25:23.410 attention to water as well, and some habits that I've 0:25:23.410 --> 0:25:28.580 developed from learning about environmental knowledge. Closing that day when 0:25:28.580 --> 0:25:30.710 I'm brushing my teeth because it only takes that one 0:25:30.710 --> 0:25:32.990 minute to brush your teeth. But people are very lazy 0:25:32.990 --> 0:25:35.240 and they do not want to get that. I think 0:25:35.240 --> 0:25:38.600 that every second counts, every second of water that comes 0:25:38.600 --> 0:25:42.010 up from that matters. And even the intervals between washing 0:25:42.020 --> 0:25:44.629 our teachers, also the methods that you should also take 0:25:44.960 --> 0:25:46.250 when the water is not needed. 0:25:46.580 --> 0:25:49.910 Very good. I'm going to get in two last questions 0:25:49.910 --> 0:25:52.760 for all of you guys, and maybe it's this one 0:25:52.790 --> 0:25:56.930 same question for the three of you. You know, Pratibha 0:25:56.930 --> 0:26:01.040 and Alex youth are really, really passionate about this issue 0:26:01.040 --> 0:26:04.280 about the environment and climate change. Have you thought into 0:26:04.280 --> 0:26:08.510 the future, whether it's in your further studies or even 0:26:08.510 --> 0:26:11.119 when you go to work? Is this something that you 0:26:11.119 --> 0:26:14.990 want to continue to champion to maybe work in even 0:26:14.990 --> 0:26:17.750 one fine day because you do sound very, very passionate 0:26:18.050 --> 0:26:21.380 and pretty well when you see students like Pratibha and Alex, 0:26:21.380 --> 0:26:24.350 do you feel encouraged and would you want them to 0:26:24.350 --> 0:26:27.320 go into the field of environment and looking at a 0:26:27.320 --> 0:26:29.689 two of them? I'm quite encouraged as well. What would 0:26:29.690 --> 0:26:33.660 you advise them for their future prospects? But first, the students. 0:26:33.660 --> 0:26:34.730 So Alex, first? 0:26:35.359 --> 0:26:38.689 Oh, yes, definitely, because I really love caring for the 0:26:38.690 --> 0:26:41.990 environment because I feel that caring for the environment really 0:26:41.990 --> 0:26:46.250 not just once a character, for example. For me, developing 0:26:46.250 --> 0:26:50.030 sustainable and green habits has also changed my character, and 0:26:50.720 --> 0:26:53.030 I feel that it really has helped me become a 0:26:53.030 --> 0:26:56.630 better person. And I would love to be working in 0:26:56.630 --> 0:27:01.020 a few where the environment is constantly there. And personally, 0:27:01.040 --> 0:27:03.409 I aspire to be a doctor, but there are also 0:27:03.410 --> 0:27:07.760 other job opportunities that I am also interested in that 0:27:07.760 --> 0:27:11.689 is related to the environment and because I'm still young, 0:27:11.690 --> 0:27:15.350 so I'm really not sure of my future job. I 0:27:15.350 --> 0:27:18.200 don't know what to. I'll end up in, but whether 0:27:18.200 --> 0:27:19.790 or not I get my dream job, I think that 0:27:20.060 --> 0:27:22.520 it's really excellent to be working in a field where 0:27:22.670 --> 0:27:26.180 caring for the environment is always a requirement. I feel 0:27:26.180 --> 0:27:30.440 that if people working in this field, more people will 0:27:30.440 --> 0:27:33.080 be encouraged to care for the environment. 0:27:33.260 --> 0:27:35.330 Well, my advice to you is so long as you 0:27:35.330 --> 0:27:38.000 enjoy doing it, that's already a dream job. So good 0:27:38.000 --> 0:27:40.159 luck to you. I hope you do it, Pratibha. How 0:27:40.160 --> 0:27:40.609 about you? 0:27:41.150 --> 0:27:44.930 Personally, I'm also a salesperson. My goal right now is 0:27:44.930 --> 0:27:49.370 that my future job is to be a biochemist mostly 0:27:49.369 --> 0:27:53.060 is because I really want to help people. But right now, 0:27:53.090 --> 0:27:55.879 as I learn about sciences in my school right now, 0:27:55.880 --> 0:27:58.010 I can say, is that actually a lot? Because she 0:27:58.010 --> 0:28:01.369 thinks a lot about the environment? I may not be 0:28:01.369 --> 0:28:04.400 someone I as passionate about the environment as I am now, 0:28:04.400 --> 0:28:06.980 maybe in the future. I think that I'll continue like 0:28:06.980 --> 0:28:10.010 doing the sustainable habits that I am doing right now. 0:28:10.869 --> 0:28:14.750 There is the opportunity for me to actually get into 0:28:14.750 --> 0:28:20.010 the industrial environment because as Alexa, I'm a great investor 0:28:20.010 --> 0:28:23.530 and in Green Bay, you race presentation that I did 0:28:23.540 --> 0:28:26.990 some of my friends, they came up to me. And 0:28:27.200 --> 0:28:30.410 since our class is a class, they were like, You 0:28:30.410 --> 0:28:34.790 have any other extra emails you like you can use 0:28:34.910 --> 0:28:37.670 and all great whites, you know, like, I don't know 0:28:37.790 --> 0:28:39.740 why you need it. So. And the issue to me 0:28:39.740 --> 0:28:43.040 about how they use the old battery pots in their 0:28:43.040 --> 0:28:45.620 uniforms and in the phones is a new way of 0:28:45.620 --> 0:28:47.990 ensuring they can actually use it. For that, I could 0:28:47.990 --> 0:28:52.270 join batteries, the power up their joints and learning about that, 0:28:52.280 --> 0:28:54.980 I'll say, Oh, that's so cool. You know, what I 0:28:54.980 --> 0:28:59.030 see is actually influential for them actually making environmental change 0:28:59.360 --> 0:29:02.540 to isolate the feeling that I got, like I really 0:29:02.540 --> 0:29:05.810 personally like, felt really proud that I'm actually advocating for 0:29:05.810 --> 0:29:09.310 a change. So maybe like some kind of future, you know, like, 0:29:09.320 --> 0:29:13.310 I'm still young. I'm thinking about is know, helping people, 0:29:13.310 --> 0:29:15.530 you know, bio I like him because it's like the 0:29:15.530 --> 0:29:19.670 subjects I'm a bit better in as I spend my 0:29:19.670 --> 0:29:22.820 time in school. You know, as I continue growing, I 0:29:22.820 --> 0:29:25.070 think my love for the environment will still continue to 0:29:25.070 --> 0:29:28.130 grow and nourish. So maybe there is a chance in 0:29:28.130 --> 0:29:31.570 the future that I might become an educator for it, 0:29:31.590 --> 0:29:35.980 and I'm going to be a stage three stage and 0:29:35.990 --> 0:29:37.340 all of the students 0:29:37.820 --> 0:29:40.310 pretty listening to all this you. You must be even 0:29:40.310 --> 0:29:45.080 more encouraged and then invigorated by the future that these 0:29:45.080 --> 0:29:47.810 young adults seem to hold for us. What would you 0:29:47.810 --> 0:29:51.890 advise them then to continue this through their studies and 0:29:51.890 --> 0:29:53.300 through their careers next time 0:29:53.540 --> 0:29:55.910 the kids really make me feel young every day for 0:29:55.910 --> 0:29:59.530 the kids nowadays? And if you hurt election, they said, 0:29:59.570 --> 0:30:02.630 I am still young, I'm still young. So sometimes at 0:30:02.630 --> 0:30:06.110 this age they feel very overwhelming. People actually ask them, 0:30:06.290 --> 0:30:09.620 What careers would you go into? So in our school, 0:30:09.620 --> 0:30:10.940 you would usually ask them, What do you think is 0:30:10.940 --> 0:30:13.850 your gift to the world? I agree. And your gift 0:30:13.850 --> 0:30:16.130 to the world, you know, what are you passionate about? 0:30:16.130 --> 0:30:19.610 Because I think that would actually make them more purposeful. 0:30:19.940 --> 0:30:22.310 So what we try and do is we just expose 0:30:22.310 --> 0:30:25.880 them to as many fields as possible. My colleagues for and. 0:30:27.210 --> 0:30:30.810 Expose them to as many areas because we need expert, 0:30:31.140 --> 0:30:35.490 passionate people in all areas, whether it's environment, whether it's 0:30:35.610 --> 0:30:39.690 wellbeing or electrons to be a doctor. I hope that 0:30:39.690 --> 0:30:42.300 whatever their passion or whatever career, they want to go 0:30:42.300 --> 0:30:47.760 into being environmentally conscious being and remain mentally friendly. And 0:30:48.240 --> 0:30:52.020 it can also be your career because you volunteer there 0:30:52.320 --> 0:30:55.380 on a regular basis. You just don't get paid for it. 0:30:56.040 --> 0:30:59.580 So that's why we we actually tell our kids sustainable habits, 0:30:59.580 --> 0:31:02.940 beautiful world, because we really want them to to think 0:31:02.940 --> 0:31:06.690 green is sustainable, whether it's your career or not. But 0:31:06.690 --> 0:31:10.050 if you are mindful that whatever job you do, you 0:31:10.410 --> 0:31:14.430 not waste food in water, in energy. I think that 0:31:14.430 --> 0:31:17.880 would contribute to all the efforts that every other group 0:31:17.880 --> 0:31:20.490 is trying to do for climate change. 0:31:20.880 --> 0:31:24.980 Well, pretty Pratibha and Alex, it's been a really inspiring conversation. 0:31:24.990 --> 0:31:27.240 Thank you very much. Thank you for speaking with me. 0:31:29.520 --> 0:31:31.920 And thanks for listening to the climate conversation, stay up 0:31:31.920 --> 0:31:34.520 to date on CNN's coverage of climate change on CNN. 0:31:35.280 --> 0:31:37.710 You can also find this and other senior podcasts on 0:31:37.710 --> 0:31:41.930 our website and on iTunes and Spotify. Team behind this podcast. Christina, 0:31:41.940 --> 0:31:45.480 Robert Insulin and every law. I'm Jamie Horton next week.