The end of year S4P competition in Parramatta included just one category – speaking.  The topic was the same as the national one:  Trees, the Guardians of Life. This special high school competition was organised with the support of the City of Parramatta Council. It included junior and senior categories.

Here are our winners:

Senior group: 

• Winner:  Mia
• Runner-up:  Annoushka Maikap

Junior group

• Winner:  Sophie
• Runner-up:  Sameera Rajendram

Please listen to this wonderful winning speech by Mia from Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta:

“Mother Nature urges humanity to safeguard Earth’s guardians—trees—warning of a bleak future without them, while challenging humans to protect and restore our planet”.

Please see winners from the national, online 2024 Speaking 4 the Planet competition.

Congratulations to all entrants and to the winners in each category.

Apologies for the delayed results. We had technical challenges with many of the entries.

There were 90 entries in total. The bulk of those fell in the Writing category. Surprising to see that there were no entries in the Speaking category, and for the Performance Poetry section we received only written poems.  We are able to offer a third prize in the Art category.

To the winners, please respond to me directly so we can sort out details for distributing the prizes.

Phil Smith

phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

WRITING

First place

Deanna Tsotras

Sutherland Shire, enormous jacaranda trees stand tall.

They are the defenders of life, and they will never fall.

Branches stretch out; arms embrace.

drawing us within for comfort and grace.

Deanna wrote about her writing: “In my work, I created a poem that uses words to ignite imagination and evoke emotions, enabling readers to explore other regions.”

Deanna is from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College, Burraneer, Sutherland Shire

Second place

Ella Abbey

The birds, the butterflies, the beasts are no more. The river, the mountain, the valley, silent. Their mossy guardian is toppled, the forest’s lifeblood crushed. The grand trees no more.

Ella’ piece is about a natural world without trees.

Ella is from Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Terranora, Tweed Shire

ART

First place

Alexandra Taggart

from Engadine High School, Sutherland Shire

Second place

Angela Harris & Crew

from Murwillumbah Learning Community High School, Tweed Shire.

Third place

Isabella Wu

from Abbotsleigh, Ku-ring-gai Council.

(Updated Nov 2024) Result!!! RESULT City of Parramatta S4P online competition – Speaking 4 the Planet

Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations!   

Wherever we live in this country – near the coast, along rivers, in mountains or in cities like Parramatta – we have valuable trees and bushland. Trees are a part of our lives. And they matter. Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations. 

If you are a high school student in Parramatta, join this speaking competition.

Information Package

Click here to read Information Package: Link.

It contains information on the topic, links to resources, and explanation and judging criteria for each category. Be sure to visit council’s website for information on such things as bushland management, canopy cover, tree replacement policies… 

Submission Portal

Click here to get to the Submission Portal: Link.

Closing date

25 October 2024.

Here’s what one student said about the 2023 competition

Trees are sanctuaries.

Whoever knows how to speak to them,

whoever knows how to listen to them,

can learn the truth.

Hermann Karl Hesse, (1877-1962)

The 2024 Kids 4 the Planet competition at Lakemba PS is entitled, Listening 2 the Planet.  It takes place on Thursday 27 June.

In this Stage 3 competition, students will compete in 5 categories:

1. Speaking
2. Writing
3. Art
4. Video
5. STEM

Read the Support Package: Here. 

Here’s a video by the K4P Ambassador, Minh Khue.  She is an 8 year-old student from Ba Dinh Primary School in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

On Saturday 13 April 2024, St Mark’s College, Namagoma, Uganda (www.stmark.sc.ug), hosted the first-ever Speaking 4 the Planet competition in Africa. The college invited participation through its many clubs, and the competition theme was, Use your philosophy as a club to address environmental challenges. 

Students aged 12-20 participated. Participation was free.

11 clubs participated with over 200 participants from all clubs. They set up interactive booths and displays to showcase their activities. Every participant received a certificate of participation and the outstanding participants got golden medals.

Clubs ranged from academic – Debate & Writers, ICT, Maths, Entrepreneurship, Swahili (EAC) and Science – to creative – Art, Cultural – to community service – Wildlife, Interact, Red Cross, Patriotism.

Each participating club presented four items:

• Junior speaker (12-15yrs old): Maximum time 4 minutes 

• Senior speaker (16-20yrs old): Maximum time 4 minutes

• Art:  One person speaks for maximum 1minute about the artwork. 

• One other item chosen from Drama, Dance, Poetry: Maximum time 4 minutes.

The winning club was the Science Club. The club was awarded a Goat. Every club received a certificate of participation as a club. 

Students and teachers alike engaged in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and performances such as tree planting, art & crafts, knitting, recycling, making tangible items like dust bins from dumped bottles, and others.

As a result of this successful event, the school’s Director proposed that May 1st (Labor day) of every year be Clubs Day.

“Environmental sustainability is not just a moral obligation, but an economic imperative. The health of our planet is crucial for the well-being of our businesses and communities.”

Wildlife Club

“We must recognize the intrinsic value of nature and take action to preserve it for future generations. Sustainability is not a choice, it’s a necessity.”

EAC club

Photo: TheFifthEstate.com

Australia has some of the worst rates of deforestation in the world – comparable to Indonesia and Brazil.

Here’s what we’ve uncovered so far about this crisis:

• Over 73% of deforestation is for beef production. Trees are bulldozed, invasive grasses are planted and cattle are brought in. 
  
• From 2016-2021, over 2.2 million hectares of forest and bushland was bulldozed in Queensland alone.
  
• The majority of beef sold in Australia ends up sold at Woolworths, Coles, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks. 
  
• Today, just 50% of Australia’s original forests and bushland remain intact.

Together, let’s end the deforestation crisis and protect our backyard.

From GreenPeace.org.au

St. Mark’s College

Namagoma, Uganda

____________________________________

13 April 2024

USE YOUR PHILOSOPHY AS A CLUB TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Support Package link is HERE

St Mark’s College, Namagoma, will host the first-ever Speaking 4 the Planet competition in Uganda. The first ever in Africa!

The theme for the speaking competition is USE YOUR PHILOSOPHY AS A CLUB TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.

 Students will participate through their clubs. Each participating club will present four items:

1. Junior speaker (12-15yrs old) Maximum time 4minutes
2. Senior speaker (16-20yrs old) Maximum time 4minutes
3. Art.  One person speaks for maximum 1minute about the artwork. 
4. One other item chosen from Drama, Dance, Poetry. Maximum time 4minutes.

Bruno Muyunga is taking the lead in making this event happen – the First Speaking 4 the Planet competition in Africa happen! He is an environmental activist and one of the school’s IT specialists. He says, 

It has always been my passion to protect the environment since I grew up seeing the natural environment. Now, sadly, it’s becoming damaged and many species are becoming extinct.

Educators, now, must take up the challenge to help children learn about the conservation of the environment.

While attending the 12^th World Environmental Education Congress in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, I realized that St Mark’s College Namagoma can make a difference. I can make a difference. And everyone in our school can be a part of a sustainability journey.  Inspired by what I saw and learned at the 12^th WEEC, I have decided to embark on carrying out education and awareness sessions to sensitize people about the natural environment and its contributions to humanity – which I think many people do not know about. I want to help nurture a young generation that can conserve the natural environment.

With support from

This year, the K4P competition asks participants to listen. To listen and hear. To hear and act. To the Earth. The Earth that provides clean air and water, good soils, and a climate that is habitable for all species. 

This year, students are asked to

• speak
• or write
• or draw
• or make videos
• or do a STEM activity

that shows the importance of listening. How to do it well. And what they hear… when they listen closely. 

Event Details

• Venue: Lakemba Public School
• Date: 27 June 2024

This event invites a handful of local schools in the immediate vicinity of Lakemba PS.  If you are in a different area – anywhere in Australia – and you want to host or participate in such an event, please contact Phil on phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

Poster

Package link

Climate Action Burwood Canada Bay is taking the lead in bringing this 2024 S4P competition to the high schools of Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield local government areas.  The event will take place on Wednesday 5 June at Domremy College, Five Dock. The topic for the competition is Journey to a Greener Future. All entries and performances must be based on this topic.

Registration is essential.

Given the number of schools across the three LGAs, only nine schools can enter for the speaking and five schools for the drama categories. All schools can enter the art and writing categories.  

Schools must register by contacting Robin at footprintscabcb@gmail.com

See this information package for more details. It contains:

• Information on each competition category. 
• The judging criteria. 
• Links to relevant resources. 

Trees, the Guardians of Life

Join the 2024 national online S4P competition. The topic is Trees, the Guardians of Life. 

UPDATED: Deadline for submission is changed to 26 July 2024.

This change is as necessary because of the interest.

Trees, the Guardians of Life

• Support package: click on HERE.

• Submission link: SUBMIT HERE

Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations!   

From the blue beaches to its red centre, Australia is blessed with diverse and unique woodlands, rainforests and bushland. It has 130 million hectares of forests – about 17% of its land area.  

Australia has some of the worst rates of deforestation in the world – comparable to Indonesia and Brazil.

• Over 73% of deforestation is for beef production. Trees are bulldozed, invasive grasses are planted and cattle are brought in. 
  
• From 2016-2021, over 2.2 million hectares of forest and bushland was bulldozed in Queensland alone.
  
• The majority of beef sold in Australia ends up sold at Woolworths, Coles, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks. 
  
• Today, just 50% of Australia’s original forests and bushland remain intact.

From GreenPeace.org.au

Wherever we live in this country – near the coast, along rivers, in mountains or on plains – we have valuable trees and bushland. Trees are a part of our lives. And they matter. From the northern tropical regions down through sub-tropical regions to temperate zones, we have trees everywhere. They are a part of our lives. And they matter. Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations. 

This year, the S4P competition asks participants to focus on the importance of their local bushland – for themselves and their communities and their regions. 

This topic is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land. 

All councils in Australia are invited to participate. And there are two ways you can take part in this competition.

One – register to support the online competition. In this way, all youth aged 12 – 18 in your LGA can participate.  Note that teachers are also invited to participate in this online competition!

…or…

Two – hold a live event in your LGA for your schools. 

Please read this flier.

To register or discuss the possibility of a live event, please contact Phil at phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

Prizes 

Once again, Paddy Pallin, a competition partner, will provide very practical items for first place in each category.

This year, we have decided to add a monetary element to the prizes.  In addition to the item from Paddy Pallin, first place winners will receive $100. Second place winners will receive $100.

Submission Link

Submit your work here: SUBMISSION FORM

Closing date 

The closing date will be Friday, 26 JULY, 2024.

Winners will be announced on the S4P website on National Tree Day, Sunday, 31 August 2024. 

Here’s Support Package 

You can read the Trees, the Guardians of Life package HERE.

It contains information on the topic, links to resources, and explanation and judging criteria for each category. Be sure to contact your local council and visit its website for information on such things as bushland management, canopy cover, tree replacement policies… 

Here’s what one student said about the 2023 competition

List of registered Councils