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CENTENNIAL TARGETS

The environment features very heavily in these targets - see below under Environmental Projects 2106-17


TREES FOR COMMUNITIES

This District Project was completed in September 2015


 

 ENVIRONMENTAL POSTER COMPETITION 2019-20

  THE CHANGE OF WEATHER PATTERNS

Why have they changed and the affect on our planet

Please go to the Clubs page and then select Environmental for full details of the competition.

Environmental Projects 2018-19

The new Lionistic year sees me continuing as Environmental Projects Officer as part of my role as Global Services Co-Ordinator.  Hopefully this website will contain the latest information on projects and competitions.  The Environment is an enormous subject and covers so many aspects but Lions are concerned with the Natural Environment.

The Environment has been part of Lions International policy since October 1972 when it was stated that  "Lions Clubs International, recognizing the profound impact of man's activity on the inter-relations of all components of the natural environment, ........ declares that it is the continuing policy of Lions Clubs International to foster and promote the general welfare; to help create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfil the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of mankind". 

However, many Lions do not immediately think of the Environment as being part of their Lions service, but unless we look after our own communities' environments, and encourage others in the wider world to do the same, our successors will have a much poorer place to live in. 

My job is, among other things, to:-

• Motivate clubs to undertake hands-on environmental service projects such as community clean-ups, recycling, and tree planting throughout the year
• Inform clubs about available activity planning resources, including the Lions Green Team kit
• Encourage clubs to participate in the "Protecting Our Environment" global service action campaign during the month of April and/or plan activities in celebration of Earth Day (April 22) and UN Environment Day (June 5).
• Promote club/district participation in the Lions Environmental Photo Contest and the Environmental Poster Competition
• Encourage Lions to consider the environmental effects of their personal and club actions
• Apprise Lions of any imminent environmental crisis within the district

I will be posting information here about these concerns as and when necessary. 

CENTENNIAL TARGETS

From now until December 2018 Lions will be asked to participate in these projects and any actions will be recorded to  count towards the targets.  Information on how to do this will be forthcoming.


The targets that directly concern the environment are:

Bulb planting                           100,000

Clear a path                            100 miles

Trees                                      100,000

Sea Lions                                 Draw attention to this endangered species


The targets that are indirectly linked to the environment are:

Batteries recycling                    1,000,000                     

Spectacle recycling                  1,000,000

Hearing Aid recycling               10,000


TREES

Following on from 2011-12 tree planting remains a very important project especially in Africa and India

RE-FORESTATION IN INDIA/AFRICA
105D has its own project -Trees for Communities.  This was started by Woolmer Forest Lions and taken on as a District project in January 2014.  Please see The Trees for Communities Page
There is also a District project in 105NE. Jonathan Wild of the United Carbon Bank gave a very interesting talk on this subject in Birmingham at the 2012 MD Convention.  Clubs can also donate to this if they so wish.


BEES

"Conservation of the Bee Family" is the main project to be supported through the MD thgis year. The idea is to address the problem of the alarming decline in Bee numbers (across the species). One of the main problems for bees is the dwindling sources of suitable food flowers and 'mono crop' cultivation which flowers for a limited time, which, when flowering is over, leaves the bees without a viable food source. The increasing use of Silage for animal feed also plays a part in the reduction of available flower food sources. The bee family are essential to the pollination of many of our food producing crops. 

How can we help? The sowing and planting of Bee friendly flowers, both wild and cultivated, will significantly assist in this problem. The "traditional hay meadows" were once a very good source. Such a project could involve Club members direct by approaching Farmers, schools, and other Establishments with gardens, Municipal gardens as well as including them in their own gardens.   Yateley and District Lions have given out small packets of bee friendly flower seeds at their events.  Zone 2C Clubs are supporting a scheme at Larkrise Community Farm.  The aim is to establish an apiary based teaching unit "The Lions Apiary" with up to 8 bee hives to teach students the basics of bee husbandry, hive inspection and hive maintenance, honey collection, extraction and purification.  The apiary once established should be self supporting with an estimated production of 200-300 lbs of honey each year valued at £800-£1,200.  Students will be able to watch the beekeeper from an outbuilding but suits and equipment will be made available to those who want to get more closely involved.  The cost of hives ranges from £215 to £300 for one effectively ready for bees.
Other suspected reasons for the decline in bee populations are certain insecticides and herbicides and this is at present being actively researched to come up with a solution, as is a virus which is suspected of killing off both Bees and their Pupae, again this is being actively researched. Information will be forthcoming at a later date from the MD Environmental Officer.


ENERGY CONSUMPTION/CLIMATE CHANGE

We can all do our bit towards this and can encourage others to reduce their "carbon footprint".



COMPETITIONS

There are now 2 competitions under the heading of Environmental Projects.  Cabinet agreed in June 2013 to remove The 3 R's Competition as it has never been contested.  Cabinet in July 2014 agreed to discontinue the Helen Deakin "Make the World a Better Place" as it had been poorly supported and its aims could be met by the Revised Leo Plumley Award and/or The International Photographic Competition (Peter Allen Trophy)

 MD Photographic Competition

Lions Clubs International ceased running the competition in 2017 but we are now running the competition within the Multi District.

As the name applies this  is eventually a MD Competition held each year but initially it is a District Competition.  The winner of that competition goes forward to the MD Competition.  Historically, the take up of this competition has been very poor.  Why?  There are many Lions who take photos so why not enter the competition?  You never know you could win! 

This year I am running the competition with MDHQ.   The competition is also open to LEOS.

I am happy to have as many photos as clubs wish to submit.  I will arrange for judging at the District level and if there are more than 5 entries The Peter Allen Trophy will be awarded.  The entries must be either black and white or colour prints.  

The photos  must be taken within  the British Isles and preferably within 105D.

Photos from outside the MD will be disqualified.

The size of the photo to be 5” X 7” (13 x 18 cms) and must not contain people.

There will be a District winner in each category and it is from these winners that the outright District winner will be selected. The winning category winners will be sent to MDHQ for final judging.

The categories for 2019-20 are:

1. Plants

2. Animals

3. Weather phenomenon

4. Other aspects of nature including landscape 

The photos will need the name of the photographer, their cluand the category that is being entered.  This can be written on the back of the photo.

Entries must reach me by  Monday 7th January 2018 so that the winner can be forwarded to MDHQ by January 19th 2019  for the Council of Governors to judge them at their January meeting.  All entries to the MD Competition MUST come via me and any sent directly to MD will be returned to the sender.  My address is 88a, Franklin Avenue, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 4EU.

Lions Environmental Poster Competition

 Please see above


DISCONTINUED COMPETITIONS 

Make the World a Better Place

Helen DeakinIn 2009 The District Cabinet gave permission for an Environment Competition to complement the existing Photographic Contest.  However very little interest has been shown by clubs and the 105D Cabinet in July 2014 decided that the competition should be discontinued.   The decision was also made because it was felt that the aims could be met by the International Photographic Competition and/or the revised Leo Plumley Award.

The Helen Deakin Award was 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".

The 3R's Environmental Project

This competition was discontinued by Cabinet  in June 2013 as there had never been any entries.

The competition was devised and introduced by the District Youth Committee.  The competition was based on either of these three elements : RECYCLE......RE-USE......REDUCE It was hoped that youth groups would be encouraged to undertake environmental projects.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.


CLEAN UP CAMPAIGNS

This is what a lot of Lions associate with the environment campaign and it is indeed an important part of the programme.  No one likes to see rubbish scattered about their local town or village.  Education is what is needed to remove this bugbear but in the mean time we can help clear up.  Loddon Valley Lions have helped their local community by helping to pick up rubbish once a year.  Not only is this good for the community but it brings Lions to the forefront of the community.

For more information go to the LCI Website and click on Our Work and then Community and Environmental Programs

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.

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.
With thanks to my predecessor Lion Reg Norton for providing some of the material

Judith Goodchild 105D GLOBAL SERVICES CO-ORDINATOR 2018-2019