Latest news with #EcoClub
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Tree ATM 4.0 launch to drive Ludh's green action
Ludhiana: Come Saturday, Pahwa auditorium in Guru Nanak Bhawan will be painted green. It will host an event to mark Van Mahotsav. The initiative is being taken by the municipal corporation, in association with Punjab-based NGO CityNeeds, the district administration, and the district forest department The day will begin with a workshop on 'Plantation —The Right Way'. The objective is to train students, volunteers, and Eco Club leaders in effective and scientific plantation practices. The workshop will be addressed by senior environmentalist Balwinder Singh Lakhewali and Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, horticulturist and secretary, SOCH. They will highlight the importance of native species, site preparation, and post-care techniques, scientific methods for plant survival, and the dos and don'ts of community plantations. It will be followed by the Green Guardian Awards 2025. The awards will be presented to individuals and institutions who demonstrated exceptional care of saplings planted under last year's Tree ATM 3.0 campaign. Mayor Inderjit Kaur, along with deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, and assistant commissioner Jasdev Sekhon will give away the awards. Following the award ceremony, Tree ATM 4.0 will be formally flagged off, marking the launch of Ludhiana's most innovative mobile plantation service. Through this initiative, citizens can book a free tree plantation at their site. After evaluation, volunteers from Marshall Aid will visit with tools and native saplings to conduct professional plantation, supported by geo-tagging and follow-up checks. CityNeeds tree ATM has now entered its fourth year. "The survival rate of last year's plantation was 54% overall, but the ones planted within a boundary wall or fencing had an 80% survival rate. So, we have decided not to plant saplings in public areas without tree guards and are aiming for a 70% survival rate of plants this year," said Maneet Dewan, founder of CityNeeds. Bookings for Tree ATM 4.0 have already started and can be made at . "The service is free and includes saplings, tools, and trained volunteers, but CityNeeds will be very particular about site selection. "The site must have fencing, water supply, and a designated caretaker," said Jasdev Sekhon. BOX HIGHLIGHTS OF EVENT The day will begin with a workshop on 'Plantation —The Right Way'. The objective of the workshop is to train students, volunteers, and Eco Club leaders in effective and scientific plantation practices It will be followed by the Green Guardian Awards 2025. The awards will be presented to individuals and institutions who demonstrated exceptional care of saplings planted under last year's Tree ATM 3.0 campaign Following the award ceremony, Tree ATM 4.0 will be formally flagged off, marking the launch of Ludhiana's most innovative mobile plantation service KNOW MORE ABOUT TREE ATM Through this initiative, citizens can book a free tree plantation at their site. After evaluation, volunteers from Marshall Aid will visit with tools and native saplings to conduct professional plantation, supported by geo-tagging and follow-up checks Bookings for Tree ATM 4.0 have already started and can be made at The service is free and includes saplings, tools, and trained volunteers
National Observer
5 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Next-gen Sue Big Oil activists deserve more than political deflection
The two freshly minted high school graduates who mustered the courage to plead their case before Coquitlam City Council this week could have easily walked away disheartened. It took Natalia Narvaez and Elizabeth Romero less than five minutes to deliver a speech asking council to track the city's costs of climate change and consider signing on with BC's Sue Big Oil campaign. 'Instead of being outdoors with my friends …. I am indoors, standing in front of you, explaining why I think that I am deserving of a good future,' said Narvaez, co-founder of the Eco Club at Centennial Secondary . If the city votes to join the Sue Big Oil campaign, it 'would make multibillion-dollar oil companies pay for having made purposeful, deplorable decisions despite their prior knowledge about the impact that their industry would have on the planet,' she said. Romero carried the last part of the presentation; 'We recognize that the city has taken steps in the past for climate action to take place, but we also recognize that it is simply not enough.' Stronger measures are needed so students can worry about midterm exams instead of 'about how every second is a lost second of action.' It took about the same amount of time for council members to blow them off. They were nice about it, of course, politely thanking the two young women for taking time to attend and assuring them that Coquitlam council cares deeply about the issue. Perhaps. But when people are actually interested in what you have to say, they follow up with questions. Instead, the city's environment staff proudly recited a list of recent projects that have helped cut the city's carbon pollution. It sounded to my ear like they were saying, 'We are already moving ahead full blast, so don't expect a whole lot more.'
Time of India
04-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt to plant 11cr saplings, links it to marks of students
Jaipur: Education secretary Krishna Kunal said that the department will plant 11.04 crore saplings as part of the Hariyalo Rajasthan 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign this year. The secretary conducted a review meeting for different initiatives of the department Friday. "During the campaign, a target of 10 saplings per student for Classes 1 to 8 and 15 saplings per student for Classes 9 to 12 has been set. For this target, the parents of the children should also be included because the basic spirit of this campaign is to connect children emotionally with plants." A target of planting 15 saplings has been set for each teacher and employee, said officials. The secretary also directed officials to take public support for this work and to connect donors. Along with the available land of the schools, plantation will also be done on the sites approved in the NREGA of the Gram Panchayat. In the meeting, the secretary also informed that students will be able to take selfies with their mothers while planting saplings and enter them on the Eco Club portal to get instant certificates. They will also get marks in internal exams for planting saplings as per the target. "After planting saplings, it will also have to be geo-tagged on the Hariyalo app so that the sapling can be monitored continuously," added the secretary. TNN
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
York High School names top 10% students in Class of 2025
YORK, Maine — York High School has announced its top 10% of the Class of 2025. Maxine Adelson is the daughter of Shea O'Neil and Jonathan Adelson. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society and has earned her State and Global Seal of Biliteracy for French. Maxine has received numerous academic awards, including the George Eastman Young Leaders Award and the Search for Knowledge Award, selected by YHS teachers. During her time at YHS, she has served as co-president of Young Women's Leadership and co-president of Eco-Club, advocating for education and awareness around both women's rights and the environment. As a leader in the Plastic Reduction Task Force, Maxine has worked to design and lobby a successful single-use plastic reduction ordinance in town, serving on a town committee and collaborating in local legislation, and receiving the Natural Resources Council of Maine Conservation Leadership Award and a Legislative Sentiment for her efforts. Driven by policy change, she has worked to empower high school voices to push for the Inclusive Equal Rights Amendment in Maine in collaboration with State Rep. Holly Sargent. Maxine has acted in every theater production in her high school career and served as the vice president of the Drama Club. With a passion for music, Maxine has participated in the YHS jazz ensemble throughout high school as a lead trumpet player and has performed through the jazz ensemble program at the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center on trumpet, piano, and voice. Maxine has been a volunteer and lead educator for White Pine Programs, mentoring children in the woods through nature-based education during the school year and summers. In the fall, Maxine will be attending Brandeis University and plans to major in anthropology with minors in climate policy and legal studies. More: York High's Class of 2025 ready for what's next with 'grit, humility and quiet strength' Chase Dolan, son of Jennifer and Kevin Dolan, is the valedictorian for the YHS Class of 2025. A committed student and avid volunteer at York Hospital, Chase demonstrated extensive involvement in his school and his community. At school, Chase was the MVP of the YHS Math Team, editor of the Agamenticus Sun Newspaper, and civil rights advocate on the YHS Civil Rights Team. Additionally, he was involved in the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and served as a senior facilitator for special education students. Outside of school, Chase is a dedicated classical pianist, playing piano for over 10 years while receiving lessons from Lori Gundlah. During his free time, Chase volunteered in the Emergency Room of York Hospital, accumulating over 100 volunteer hours and earning the Maine Youth Volunteer Roll of Honor from the Governor. For his achievements in high school, Chase has earned the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, the Global Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and the title of AP Scholar with Distinction. Chase will continue his academic journey this fall at Northeastern University's honors program with a major in bioengineering & biochemistry. Marcus Hamel, the son of Louis and Kim Hamel, has been a happy resident of York since birth. Growing up on the beach and in the woods, Marcus enjoyed being a camp counselor for White Pines during the summer, after growing up in many of their programs. In his time at York High School, despite being a passionate procrastinator, Marcus has stayed on the honor/high honor roll, participating in the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. In addition to academics, Marcus is a part of the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. Through high school, Marcus focused on AP math and science classes and settled on mechanical engineering as his field of study in college. In the fall, he will attend the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Emma Joyce, daughter of Bryan and Heidi Joyce, was born and raised in the town of York. During her time at York High School, she has been a part of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society and is a class officer. She has also been actively involved in the Interact Club, as well as volunteering as a peer listener and camp counselor for both field hockey and lacrosse camps. Additionally, Emma has participated in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse throughout high school. She has been awarded an Iron Wildcat and been nominated as a captain for all three sports her senior year. In the fall, Emma plans to attend Quinnipiac University, where she will be majoring in health science studies on a pre-med track. Peter T. Martin is the son of Deanna and Peter Martin and has a sister, Evie, who is a freshman at YHS. He is the vice president of the York chapter of the National Honor Society, most notably helping organize a food drive for the YCSA food pantry. A 1st Team All-Conference quarterback, Peter led the state in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions in his senior football season. One of his proudest accomplishments is receiving the Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award, given to two students for excellence in athletics, leadership, and community service. In his free time, Peter loves umpiring Little League games, playing the guitar and piano, and getting ice cream with his friends. In the fall of 2025, Peter will attend the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, focusing on social studies. Sophie Pike is the daughter of Joan LeBlanc and Bion Pike. She is a member of the National Honor Society and French Language Honor Society. She earned an AP Capstone Diploma and an AP Scholar Award. She was honored to receive the York Teachers' Association, Virginia and Robert Parsons, and Mike Sullivan scholarships for community service and leadership. Sophie enjoyed volunteering in the special education classroom at Village Elementary School throughout her senior year. As a volunteer with Blue Ocean Society, she conducts beach cleanups and helps raise awareness about marine debris. She is an active member of the Young Women's Leadership Club at York High School, promoting women's social justice and health equity. As an avid tennis player, Sophie played varsity first singles at York High School and served as a captain during her senior year. She received a Sportsmanship Award and competed in state singles and team championship rounds. Throughout her childhood, she trained year-round and competed in UTR and USTA tournaments. Last year, she became a PTR1 certified tennis coach and has volunteered to teach tennis at York Parks and Recreation, York Golf and Tennis Club, and other programs. This fall, Sophie will attend Clemson University in South Carolina, where she will major in elementary education and play club tennis. She is excited about becoming a special education teacher to help children enjoy learning while achieving their full potential. Liam Pulsifer is the son of Carrie and Jason Pulsifer and the brother of Nora Pulsifer. He has spent his last four years participating in Varsity Boys Soccer and Varsity Boys Tennis, captaining both teams, and making the All-Conference Second Team for singles in tennis. To accompany these athletics, he has also coached young athletes in York for both sports, including creating a weekly training session during the fall for middle-school tennis players along with his teammates. Outside of fostering a stronger community of athletes, Liam has also mentored younger students in high school, acting as a role model and leader for others to follow. He has received various awards, such as the University of Rochester Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, the Global Seal of Biliteracy for French, as well as being a part of both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society for French. This fall, Liam will attend Northeastern with a major in computer science and biology. Maren Robinson, daughter of Tony and Cindy Robinson, sister to Brady Robinson, has displayed excellence in and outside the classroom. Maren has taken twelve advanced placement classes over her high school career, earning multiple AP Scholar with Distinction awards. Maren has demonstrated proficiency in Spanish, earning her State Seal of Biliteracy during her junior year and her Global Seal of Biliteracy in her senior year. Maren has earned multiple school awards for excellence in academics, including the York High School World Languages Senior Ambassador Award. At York High School, Maren founded the Model United Nations club, was an editor for the school newspaper, competed nationally for the speech and debate team, participated in the Young Women's Leadership Club, and was a member of the National Honor Society and World Languages Honor Society. Maren was selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Conference held at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. During the ten-day conference, Maren studied politics and public policy with other student leaders from all over the United States. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Maren has made an impact in the community through her volunteer work. Serving as a peer listener and senior facilitator her senior year, Maren worked to form strong connections throughout the York school community. Additionally, she volunteered as a coach for four years at her local Girls on the Run Program and volunteers for her local library. Athletics have also been a key part of Maren's high school career, as she has been a varsity starter for her high school softball team all four years of high school, and a team captain her senior year. In the fall, Maren will be attending Middlebury College, where she will major in global and international studies with a track in global security. Maren will play softball for Middlebury's varsity team. Sophie Scapicchio, daughter of Jessica Scapicchio and Stephen Scapicchio, is a dedicated student with a passion for learning and a member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society. She has been participating in speech and debate for three years and the YHS Drama Club all four years of high school, also playing the flute in the YHS Concert Band. She has received academic awards for AP Calculus BC, Honors Physics, AP Computer Science, and more, as well as earning her Seal of Biliteracy in French. In addition to academic achievements, she works at the York Public Library and volunteers at the First Parish Church Pumpkin Patch in the fall. Lastly, she is a National Merit Scholar and the recipient of a National Merit Scholarship, and was nominated for the Presidential Scholars Program. Next year, she will attend Mount Holyoke College with a major in mathematics. Harriet Watson, daughter of Jennifer and Eric Watson, was born and raised in York, Maine. She has received awards for excellence in English, AP Capstone, and Spanish, has been inducted into the Spanish Honor Society and has been a member of the Art Club all four years, serving as president in her senior year. Additionally, she has been a supportive member of a few other clubs. During her free time over the summers, she likes to volunteer at her local library, which allows her not only the opportunity to share her love of literature with others and to connect with the patrons, but also a means for indulging her curiosity and desire to learn. When not volunteering, Harriet is often either engaged in some kind of creative pursuit like drawing, painting, or listening to music, or enjoying the company of friends. Harriet's proximity to the ocean all of her life has fostered and inspired her love of the marine environment, so it is not uncommon to find her outside, exploring the beach and investigating tide pools. After a gap year to further explore, learn, and volunteer, Harriet will be attending Colgate University with a major in natural sciences with a focus on marine science. Chloe Whitbread is the proud daughter of Krista Whitbread. She is president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, an actress in the drama club, and the president of TIDALWAVSE. During her senior year, she was a part of the field hockey and softball teams. She has been an influential captain of the speech and debate team, competing nationally five times across the country. Additionally, Chloe founded Model United Nations at YHS. For the past four years, she has volunteered as a head coach with Strong Girls United, empowering young girls through sports and mentorship, as well as being a dedicated peer listener. Chloe has been an active member and president of the York High School eco-club. Her passion for environmentalism led her to spearhead the passing of the Single-Use Plastic Foodware Town Ordinance, the most comprehensive plastic reduction ordinance in the state. Due to her commitment to conservation, she has been awarded the Natural Resource Council of Maine Conservation Leadership Award, in addition to receiving a legislative sentiment. During her sophomore year, Chloe was selected as a TEDx speaker, where she spoke on the importance of valuing life's journeys. She has further expressed her passion for advocacy as a member of the Hardy Girls Feminist Action Board. Chloe has been recognized for her academic excellence with book awards from Dartmouth, Princeton, Brandeis, and the University of Vermont. Chloe is this year's recipient of the Maine Principals Association award and recipient of the Mitchell Scholarship and the Rotary Scholarship. Chloe has also been honored with the social studies book award for four years of excellence and will be graduating with an AP Capstone diploma. In the fall, Chloe will be attending Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, with a major in public policy. She hopes to continue her passion for advocacy and leadership with a strong desire to change the world. Evan Young is the son of Karen and Michael Young. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Throughout his time at YHS, Evan has excelled in STEM fields, earning awards in math and science classes, as well as in English and social studies classes. In addition, he has pursued his interest in world language, receiving the global seal of biliteracy in Spanish. Outside the classroom, he has played on both the school's lacrosse and soccer teams. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, he has committed many hours to volunteering and working at the White Pine Program's nature-based outdoor education program to pass this love on to younger generations. He has also been actively involved in the YHS Interact Club. To fulfill his passion for solving problems and (definitely not more importantly) adventuring in the mountains, Evan will be attending the University of Colorado Boulder, where he will be studying mechanical engineering. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York High School names top 10% students in Class of 2025
Time of India
07-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Seed ball dispersal drive held in Udupi
Udupi: The Eco Club of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, in collaboration with the Karnataka forest department, Adi Udupi, and the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust, organised a seed ball dispersal drive to mark World Environment Day . As part of the initiative, seed balls were prepared by the Eco Club students by combining red soil, vermicompost, and coco peat. Seeds of native tree species such as jackfruit, mango, Pterocarpus marsupium (Honne), Syzygium cumini (Nerale), and Terminalia bellerica (Taare), known to flourish in the local ecosystem, were selected to ensure better germination and long-term growth. The drive was inaugurated with an address by Shivanand, deputy range forest officer (DRFO), who stressed the importance of reforestation and the role of seed balls in enhancing biodiversity and sustaining the environment. He also stressed the need for community-driven conservation efforts. Guided by forest department officials, Eco Club students dispersed approximately 870 seed balls in selected areas of Badagubettu Reserve Forest to enhance the chances of natural regeneration. In addition to the seed balls, saplings provided by the forest department were also planted. Prof Vanitha Mayya, Principal of MGM College, extended her support to the programme. Maneetha TK, convenor of the Eco Club; Thejasvi Acharya, managing trustee of the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust; and beat forest officers Devaraj Pana, Shrinivas Jogi, and Sowmya were present. Students who participated in the drive later shared their experiences of contributing to this green initiative.
