Whitbread Action Earth Welsh Launch

A special event to mark the launch of Whitbread Action Earth in Wales took place at Ysgol Bro Eirwg, Llanrumney Cardiff on Wednesday 22nd January.

Invited guests joined children from the "Super Eco School" in creating a pond made out of whole Yellow Pages, and characters from the Welsh children's story "Billy Broga" using Yellow Pages, papier mache and origami flowers and plants from - you've guessed it- Yellow Pages!

Organiser for the Wales launch, Debbie Gray of CSV Environment, hopes that this year will highlight the global impact of our throwaway society and the need for the three "Rs" namely, recycle, reduce and reuse. Ms Gray described the event as "a paper and paste mayhem contributing to the school's entry to the Yellow Pages Sculpture Competition 2003".

Guest of honour was Sue Essex AM, Minister for Transport & Environment. Other guests included John Thomas AM Plaid Cymru for Cardiff, representatives from Cardiff City Council, Cardiff Waste Forum, Track 2000, recipients of Whitbread Action Earth grants, Derek Harvey, Whitbread Regional Director and Kerry Richards, Communications Whitbread.

The event was televised by S4C, the Welsh language television station, and screened later that evening across all of Wales. From the publishing sector, we had the South Wales Echo, and Western Mail. The Welsh Assembly Press Officer was also present at this remarkable event, so too was the School's own newspaper. Although the highlight of the event was the amazing pond sculpture and wildlife that initially looked like a pile of 1000+ yellow pages books, we also have to include the amazing fashion show Derek Harvey gave in modelling the Whitbread Action Earth sweatshirt to the stunned applause of everyone participating. He proved himself to be a real trooper!

Since the event even more grant applications have been requested and we hope that this year Wales will exceed in all targets met. The presence of Sue Essex AM at the launch is a great boost for the Welsh campaign. Ms Essex, always a supporter of such issues described the launch as "a positive step forwards. I am happy to support Whitbread Action Earth, Wales for their 2003 campaign. The environment needs safeguarding. Encouraging children in good environmental practice makes them guardians of their future".