Green Matters

This is the first edition of the Kwalikum Observer’s environmental section, Green Matters. I want to do my part to help the planet. It can be overwhelming to think about everything that needs to be fixed, and it can be hard to know where to start. In this section of the newspaper, there will be information on ways to reduce your carbon footprint, protect endangered species, minimize waste, and make more eco-conscious choices. Expect to see stories on what Kwalikum Secondary is doing to lessen our impact on the environment. There will be inspiring features on individuals and groups in our school and community who are doing their part to preserve our planet. Garbage cans have been removed from classrooms and replaced with green bins. This is thanks to our new Zero Waste Initiative, introduced by the KSS student government. The purpose of this initiative is to correct the waste problem our world is facing. In this day and age, it seems like humans live to consume, live to buy, live to use, and live to make waste. We purchase unnecessary quantities, and it's shocking how much waste our day-to-day actions produce. When throwing something out, we often don’t think about where it's going. Landfills release harmful greenhouse gases into the environment, contributing to climate change. This is only the beginning of the problems caused by waste. Kwalikum Secondary is trying to reduce their carbon footprint by encouraging zero waste lunches and emphasizing the importance of composting and recycling. In the next issue, there will be an exclusive interview with Student Council President, Elena Sales on the Zero Waste Initiative.“You are never too small to make a difference” ( Greta Thunderberg).