Uncategorized – Speaking 4 the Planet https://speaking4theplanet.org.au an Arts-based approach to sustainability Tue, 17 Sep 2024 06:20:25 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://i0.wp.com/speaking4theplanet.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cropped-48x48-S4P-Icon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Uncategorized – Speaking 4 the Planet https://speaking4theplanet.org.au 32 32 117838204 Winners National S4P 2024 – Trees: the Guardians of Life https://speaking4theplanet.org.au/winners-national-s4p-2024-trees-the-guardians-of-life/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winners-national-s4p-2024-trees-the-guardians-of-life Sun, 15 Sep 2024 08:42:41 +0000 https://speaking4theplanet.org.au/?p=2354 Dear all,

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

Sydney Red Gum by Alexandra “Our future depends on trees, but trees can’t depend on us. We blindly murder this wonderful greenery, causing ecosystems to fall… eventually taking us.”

Second place

Angela Harris & Crew

from Murwillumbah Learning Community High School, Tweed Shire.

Trees, guardians of the land by Angela and the crew: “Bushland supports our wellbeing and communities, offering homes for wildlife. Trees and animals work together to protect, nourish and sustain our environment and future.”

Third place

Isabella Wu

from Abbotsleigh, Ku-ring-gai Council.

We by Isabella Wu: “Interconnectedness of tree, nature & blossoming of life guides me to live with nurturing kindness to the world”.
]]> 2354 4 Facts on Deforestation you need to know! https://speaking4theplanet.org.au/4-facts-on-deforestation-you-need-to-know/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=4-facts-on-deforestation-you-need-to-know Fri, 03 May 2024 01:46:00 +0000 https://speaking4theplanet.org.au/?p=2270 4 Facts on Deforestation you need to know!

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

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