Lions Clubs International - District 105D

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Environment

This Lions Year 2011-2012 has started with a very special project initiated by International President Wing-Kun Tam, seen here planting the first tree in his challenge for Lions to plant a million trees in the next twelve months.

One million seems a huge target but, inspired by President Tam, I believe we can achieve it and suggest we take up that challenge in this District by aiming to "Plant a Tree in D" for every member.     

For full details about getting involved go to 'Million Trees' in the list of projects on this page.

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In this section of our website you will find information about the Lions International Environmental Policy and details of the following:

Environmental Photographic Competition

"Make the World a Better Place" Project

The 3 R's Environmental Competition

Clean Up Campaigns

and a lot more besides!

 

 

 ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS             

Despite Lions International having an established Environmental Policy since 1972 I still believe that, for many of my fellow lions, it is not immediately clear why we should be concerned about ‘the environment'. Most of us join Lions International for the traditional reason, that is "to help those less fortunate than ourselves" and question what the environment has to do with that aspiration. Mention the word ‘environment' and people will relate it to conserving energy, picking up litter, saving the rain forests, etc.

But that is only part of the answer. The "environment " relates to the totality of our surroundings or conditions, "eco" or, in Greek "oikos" means the home, the place where we live. And this leads to "Ecology" the branch of science concerned with how all living creatures interact within our home - our environment - on this fascinating, complex planet Earth. In my opinion. there needs to be a high level of commitment to the environment, to personal and community ecology and to creating a sustainable way of life for ourselves and future generations. High on the list of things to do must be helping, if only in a small way, to mitigate the effects of human-driven climate change.

In Environmental and Community Activities little things do mean a lot because, by working together, we can have a positive effect on our environment and communities.

My first objective in doing this job will be:  
To create a greater awareness of Environmental & Community activities by bringing appropriate projects to the notice of all Clubs.     

Two such projects have been - the Environmental Photographic Competition which culminates in January and participation in The Clean-up Campaign Month in March.    They, of course, will remain part of the programme available to all Lions and Lions Clubs.   
However, in order to generate more interest and, as a result, more publicity for environmental activities within our organisation I would like to widen the scope of the Photographic Competition by extending an invitation for members of the general public to join in.    If time is too short for you to arrange this in line with your own Club entries then please consider organising a competition for your  local community in the new year.    You could use the results of your club contest as publicity material.    You might consider, as my club has, running the event in April leading up to a celebration of England (and St. George) on 23rd of that month under the title of "Environmental England".    Contact me if you would like to talk through the details.

Environmental Photographic Contest

The photographic categories are.......
1. Landscapes (urban or natural)
2. Animal Life
3. Plant Life
4. Weather Phenomena
5. An annual ‘special theme' which this year (2011) asks for photos under the title "Protecting our future with trees"            i.e. Photos of trees and the vital role they play in our communities.

But, in this District, the competition is not just about the photograph.    Each photo, which should be printed 8" x 10" (20.3 x 25.4), must be accompanied by a Title and a Caption of up to 25 words describing how & why the image portrayed could be preserved, protected or enhanced. This part is important because without it I don't believe the pictures have any "environmental educational" value, they are simply interesting photographs.    Lions entries for this year must be original, unaltered, black & white or colour photos.  They cannot include people.   Entries must reach me by Monday 5th December 2011.    More about the rules, etc. elsewhere  but, for now, here are some examples of previous photo entries.

Special Theme:  Lions Grow Green

Fleet Lions at Fleet Pond, Our Local Nature Reserve "We created a new viewing area at our local nature reserve for young, old and disabled alike - to inspire them to protect our local environment."

 

 

 

 

Landscape (Urban)  "Under Age Drinking!" 

A comprehensive study, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of children's well-being in thirty industrialised nations found that drunkenness among under-16s is twice as common in the UK as in America or France.

 

 

 

 

Category: Animal Life

Title: It's not only Ducks that need water Caption: This year Hampshire is likely to have a water deficit for the first time since 1892. We need to conserve water supplies.

 

 

 

 Category: Plant Life

Title: Pollination on a Grand Scale! Caption: Around the world over half our food plants depend on pollination, so spare a thought for the insects - your lunch could depend on them!

                                                                  

 

 

Category: Landscape 

MOD Training Ground, Browndown, Hampshire Caption: The designation of this wild area for military training has resulted in an unexpected outcome; ancient heathland and its fauna are being protected.

 

 

 

 

"MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE"

An Environmental Project for Lions Clubs in District 105D introduced to commemorate the life of Miss Helen Deakin.                                       Helen lived in Stubbington, Hampshire.  She trained as a Nurse and then as a Teacher before offering herself to the Church as a Missionary.  She was rejected. So she became a "self appointed" missionary in our village where she dedicated her life and possessions to "Making the World a Better Place".       That included getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning, every morning, to ensure that the village was clean and tidy and an environment to be proud of.       In 2002 she was created a "Citizen of Honour".

 

In 2009 The District Cabinet gave permission for an Environment Competition to complement the existing Photographic Contest. This new competition will run each Lions year until 31st January, and the closing date for completed entries is 20th February.

The Club that produces, or sponsors, the winning entry will receive their prize at the District Convention. Certificates of Appreciation will also be awarded to the runners up.

Lions Clubs International has had an Environmental Policy since 1972, long before it became "fashionable"!    However, that fact is not widely recognised even among our own membership.   This competition gives us the opportunity to bring Lions Clubs and our Environmental Activities to the attention of the general public. It also gives us an opportunity to involve outside organisations and individuals, e.g. Scouts, Guides, Schools, Womens Guilds, Youth Groups, Churches, etc.

This competition is called "MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE"

It is designed to highlight environmental and sustainability activities in your locality. The prize will be £100.00 to be used for an approved environmental project or to buy an Acre of Rain Forest via the World Land Trust.     Entries can range from individual ways you are helping to conserve the planet by living an environmentally friendly life, such as transforming an allotment,

 

 cycling to work, recycling or composting, or putting unwanted items to innovative new uses to more organised group projects involved in such things as recycling, conservation, energy and water use, local food production, community organic food growing projects, etc.      Whatever you're doing to help the Planet, all you have to do to enter the MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE Competition is tell us about it!!

It's that easy. Just follow these steps

1. How are you making the World a better place ?

2. Give one good example for each category in that well known environmental slogan "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" (This will be used as a "Tie Breaker" if the need arises to choose between two or more equally good entries for Part 1.)

3. Send details of your project (with photos if possible, and appropriate) together with your contact details, and explain what you would spend the prize money on, to: Lion Reg Norton, District Environment Officer, 4 Francis Place, Stubbington, Fareham, Hampshire PO14 2RX  

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Guidelines for the 3 R's Environmental Competition

This competition has been devised and introduced by the District Youth Committee.   They have described it as follows:

The competition can be based on either of these three elements :    RECYCLE......RE-USE......REDUCE

 

 

The project chosen by the club could be any of the above with the guiding principle that it should be within the capability of the age group chosen.  This is really an extension of activities outlined in Green Team Leaflet IAD 219 and could be carried out by youngsters together with the sponsoring lions club.
Click  the following link to visit our International website Lions Green Team projects. 

Stages to follow in setting up a 3 R's Project:

· Evaluate the community needs and Determine the best project
· Find a willing partner from school or youth group.
· Plan the Procedure, look at the logistics (Including protective clothing) and see if they are within the club's budget.
· Submit proposals to the local council, school or group for their agreement.
· When the date is agreed plan publicity and do not forget to tell the insurance advisor!

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

The age range of the Group carrying out the project

The benefit to the community

The record produced.  (e.g. Scrapbook, etc) 

Additional points will be awarded for the quality of the work,  publicity gained and public recognition of the work carried out.

The record to be kept should show:-

1. The objective, why it is necessary and what is to be achieved. 
2. The plan.  A time based plan is to be drawn up which will detail the logistical requirements (People, Tools, Materials etc)
3. The group is to keep a detailed record of the work, (the who the where and the when).  It is recommended that the record should be in a Presentation Folder with Photographic Evidence of the before, work in progress and the results.
4. The effect on the community, how people are using it or advantage gained, any publicity in the media.
5. The Summary of the objective, how it affected the youth group as a team and as individuals.

The record is to be submitted to the local Lions Club by 31st October.  The frontispiece  is to clearly show the Name of the Project, The name of the Youth Group and their age(s) and the Sponsoring Lions Club.

All Projects will be forwarded to the region chairman who will  arrange to visit the project through the local lions club.

Regions will forward their projects together with their own comments to be available at the November Cabinet where a District winner will be selected.

 

 

Meanwhile, can I draw your attention to the small grants (£50) funded by Morrisons available for environmental projects from CSV Action Earth www.actionearth.org.uk               

and ask you to look out in your clubs' area for such things as ‘Green Gyms' - the latest initiative from The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and the projects being organised by some Councils together with the Police and Fire & Rescue Service called CREW (Crime Reduction and Safe Environment Weeks).

Finally, CLEAN UP CAMPAIGNS.    Probably the most effective campaign to become part of is the BIG TIDY UP organised by the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign.    Register with them and they will provide all the tabards and litter sacks, etc., for an event in your area.    Give it a try and let people know about Lions getting involved in protecting and improving our environment.

                                          

 As I said at the beginning of this page, there are many who do not recognise the need to be concerned about ‘the environment'. I think differently. If any Lion would like to know more about getting involved please contact me. In the meantime, can I draw everyone's attention to our own International Website. www.lionsclubs.org

From the Home Page Top Bar click ‘Our Work' then on the Side Bar click ‘Community & Environmental Programs'. On that page you can watch the video "Lions Go Green to Protect the Planet" then click ‘Lions Green Team'. The Side Bar on the new page will offer lots of additional information and downloads to enhance your club environmental activities.

I look forward to hearing from all Club Environment Officers that the challenges represented by the various projects and competitions outlined above have been enthusiastically accepted!   Remember the appropriate answer is "YES WE CAN!"

Lion Reg Norton

Environment & Community Affairs Officer, District 105D.