Siamo in sei ad interessarci di questa chat: i prof. di Francese,  Inglese , Italiano, Tecnica Professionale e Laboratorio Elettrico.

Ecco il link alla trascrizione della chat a cura della organizzazione europea. http://www.futurenergia.org/shared/data/futurenergia2008/futurenergia2008_chat05transcript.pdf

 The next FuturEnergia chat is scheduled on Monday, 3 March 2008 at 14:00 CET. Its topic is “Climate Protection: Taking Steps to Ensure a Bright Future”.

Age group: 12-20

Date: 3 March 2008 Time: 14.00 CET

Guest: Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth

http://www.foeeurope.org/

Language: English

The teachers who wish to take part in the chat with their classes can register by sending an email in English to Petru.Dumitru@eun.org

The email should contain the following information: School name:

Town: Country:

Students' age:

Teacher name:

Teacher e-mail:

Phone number during the chat:

Registration deadline: Friday, 22 February 2008

Oggi 3 Marzo 2008 ci sarà la prima chat alla quale partecipa la Prima IPI.

Pubblicheremo il dettaglio delle domande e delle risposte ricevute.

La nostra classe partecipa come Italy10 e siamo riusciti ad inviare 4 domande:

verres_oggi ..............

Italy10: Ciao greetings from Italy, Verrés in Aosta valley ........

Italy10: how are you?

EUN-Petru: Hi, I am fine, thanks

EUN-Petru: Ready for a new chat

Italy10: we are ready to start with 5 questions Italy10: I means we are ready and waiting for your start

* Ireland joined the chatroom.

EUN-Petru: HI Ireland

Ireland: Hello Petru,Big fall of snow here last night, everything is white

EUN-Petru: Snow? Well, the winter is nback!

portugal1: hello there ! greetings from Portugal !

 EUN-Petru: Hi Portugal

Ireland: Greetings to all

Portugal1: So, how are you all doing?

Poland1: Hello from Poland - it's very sindy but sunny. How are you all doing on Monday afternoon?

Mike Childs: Hullo, Mike CHilds from Friends of the Earth here

portugal1: Here , in Fatima ,

 Portugal1: We are a group of four spokestudents at Colegio S. Miguel in Fatima. We represent two High school science and technology class of 52 students.

EUN-Petru: Good afternoon! And warmest greetings from Brussels. Thank you for joining us. Our chat guest, Mr Mike Childs, from Friends of the Earth, is ready to answer your questions. Let’s start! Italy10, Lithuania, Poalnd1, Portugal1 and Slovakia1, Your first question, please

Italy10: •Are tropical forests being lost at annual rates of 2 – 4 % as many environmentalists claim ? What does it means for our future?

Ireland: Greetings Mike Childs and welcome

EUN-Petru: But first of all, let's great our guest, please

Mike Childs: Italy 10 Rainforests are being lost at an alarming rate - I don't have precise figures in front of me. Their loss is significantly contributer to climate change (around a quarte of emissions) and a loss of biodiversity which is important for medicines and of great beatuty

Poland1: 2.Why is it impossible to collect plastic bottles at the supermarkets in Poland? There are special containers in different countries where customers can leave empty bottles and get a few cents for each – this motivates them to do it. Why can’t it be done in our country? Is there a EU law obliging all the countries to deal with this problem?

Mike Childs: There is an EU law that obliges higher rates of recycling of different materials. Plastics are gret because they are low weight and strong and cut carbon dioxide in transport but recycl;ing rates are not high enough. EU needs to push more I think.

portugal1: What can we do in our schools to help protect the climate ?

Mike Childs: Great question: encourage your school to fit renewable power (solar cells, wind turbines), insulate the rooms. BUt also good "house-keepig" like switching computers off, lights off. Every bit helps.

Slovakia1: Do you know any different fuel which can substitute petrol?

Italy10: •Known resources of oil would keep the world economy running for about 100 years at present consumption rates. Is it an optimistic assumption?

Mike Childs: The amount of oil left is of great diospute with some claiming that we will see a peak in production in next 5-10 years followed by rapid declne. What isn't disputed is that if we burn all the oil we will have massive climate change. We have to find alternatives. For transport this means making much more effecient cars, making them lightweight, better public transport. Some alternative fuels may be found but not the present solution of biofuels from chopping down rainforests! Making fuel from agricultural waste may be possible in 5-15 years time

EUN-Petru: Next questions: from Poland1, Portugal1 and Slovakia1, please

Poland1: 3.In Poland IKEA shops don’t pack the things you buy into plastic bags; you can buy a paper bag or bring your own bag – this should become more popular. In this way they are going to plant trees for the money they save on plastic bags. Is it possible to make it obligatory not to use plastic bags in shops?

EUN-Petru: Thank you Mr Childs

Slovakia1: What do you consider to be your greatest success in fight for enviromental protection?

EUN-Petru: Hi France, and thank you for joining us today!

France: Our pleasure!

EUN-Petru: France, I will invite to type your first question in about 10 minutes

Mike Childs: Plastic bags are a hot topic of debate. They have some advantagous (leightweight / strong) but the amount used and how they are disposed of are a big problem. We would like to see plastic bag taxes like in Ireland, but also encourage more use of reusable bags than simply switching to paper.

EUN-Petru: Mr Childs, when aswering, please start yoru question with the name of the country you answer

Mike Childs: The greatest success to date for environmentalists is the protection of wildlife in Europe. BUt our greatest challenge is climate change. There is awareness now and massive pressure for action. If we don't win this we can say goodbye to most of the World's wildlife and cost millions of human lives and livlihoods portugal1: we must be prepared to face this huge challenge of protecting our own planet and promoting a balanced climate by adopting daily and greener attitudes and also accepting large scale challenge - with the adequate and suitable responses from all people, especially the powerful politicians , business men and organizations like FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ?

Poland1: 4.What are the best materials to use instead of plastic? Is it true that paper bags are cheaper than plastic ones? Are glass bottles cheaper than plastic ones?

Mike Childs: Poland - I don't think it is possible to make generalisatons I'm afraid. Plastic is great for some uses and not others. Plastic bottles are best if not local return possible (like in most of EU)

Poland1: What are the most important things we can be all doing on daily basis to protect the climate? portugal1: Are there any unconvenient lies on climate protection?

Italy10: •London might be facing catastrophic flooding in the future because of global warming . What evidence of climate change is there in Europe ?

EUN-Petru: Italy10, LT, Poland1, Portugal1 and SLovakia1, your last question please, since time runs out; the other group of schools will start questionning

Mike Childs: Poland - try not using the car - get your parents to walk/cycle - recycle - tell your parents and other adults how much you care about environment and want action

Poland1: What are the most important things we can be all doing on daily basis to protect the climate?

Slovakia1: What do you consider to be your greatest success in fight for enviromental protection?

Italy10: •Is already the planet carrying a higher population than it can sustain ?

portugal1: how can we spread the message to our communities?

Mike Childs: Portugal - there are always lies and uncertainties. MOstly I would say from oil industry. Groups like Friends of the EArth rely on science of IPCC - 2000 scientists that are accepted as World experts

Poland1: Thank you Mr Childs for your ansers - we will be trying to spread how important it is to save our environment.

Slovakia1: can we have one more ? How can I participate on some campaigns as a simple student?thank you portugal1: thanks , Mr Childs.

Mike Childs: Italy - it is very difficult to pint to one weather event and say it is man-made climate change. WEather experts have said that heatwaves over recent year and consistent wih predictions of what man-made climae change will do.

EUN-Petru: Next group of schools will start in anout 2-3 minutes: so it is your turn: SK2, Turkey, Portugal3, Ireland, Romania portugal1: we rely on them too to make sure ,we're protected.

Italy10: Thanks M- Childs and all of you; see you on next chat; best regards from all our pupils from Isitip Verrés

France: What can be the consequences of climate changes on animals and humans who live by the sea in Europe ?

Slovakia2: ••What will happen to the plastic material after its usage when we want to get rid of it?

From Fatima , Portugal . Thank you all and see you next time .

Mike Childs: Italy - population is a big question. In developed countries population growth isn't the problem but increased consumption is. In developing countries they have fast populaion growth and fast increased consumptiomn. We need to cointrol consumption and provide education/heath service/family planning that results in lower population growth

Mike Childs: Slovakia - it is great you want to campaign. Either look for an organisation in your own country or set up a campaign group with friends (plenty of advice on campaigning on web). It's your planet - your voice has to count!

 France: What can be the consequences of climate changes on animals and humans who live by the sea in Europe ?

Mike Childs: France - sea level rise will create some new areas of biodiversity and sea floods land. BUt rich and diverse habitats now will suffer. Overall it will be a loss. WArmer water also threatens to destroy coral reefs.

romania: Is Global Warming a slow death, but sure?

Poland10: would it be a good idea to organize a campaign in European schools for protecting climate?

Ireland: We were always led to believe that biofuels would counteract CO2 emissions in the transport industry. Now we learn that the same biofuels/agrofuels are in themselves releasing massive mounts of carbon. We are confused. Can you explain?

 Mike Childs: Slovakia - plastic will either be burnt in ineffecient incinerator releasing carbon dioxide or sit in landfill for hundreds of years. REcycling is best and industry has to do much more on this. romania: Is Global Warming a slow death, but sure?

Mike Childs: Romania - some climate change will happen, but if we react now we can prevent a "slow death". Man can do amazing things if you look at how computers have developed in recent years. We have the ability to make the world a better place if politicians / industry go for it

France: How can we conciliate environment and economy?

Poland10: which areas of our lives have the greatest impact on the climate? rests to plant plantations. When they do that they release far more CO2 than they save.

Mike Childs: France - looking after the environment will be good for economy. An important economic review by UK GOvernment said that (Stern REview). Destroing the environment will damage the economy because it is the source of our wealth (climate, food, water, minerals)

Portugal2: 1-Our class has been participating in a Project called “Youth Parliament”.We presented three measures to discuss in the Portuguese Parliament One of them is: to create a new energy bill where we could distinguish three different ranks and colours according to consumption: the green, the yellow and the red. The green for normal consumption; the yellow for a consumption that can and should be reduced, and the red one for careless households that waste electricity disrespecting nature. People who got yellow bills would be punished with an increase of 5% and who got red bills with an increase of 10%. The money would be used for solar panels in public places (schools, hospitals etc…). Is this practicable and useful in the EU countries?

romania: Why do you think that people don’t do something good for stopping Global Warming?

Mike Childs: Poland - our consumption of products has the biggest impact on average (cars, throw away products, etc) - if we consumed less, reused and repaired more, recycled more then we would be moreacqua sustainable

romania: Do you think that if we give 50 euro/cent to everyone who throws the bottles on the right basket, this would have any efect?

Poland10: how do you think the climate will change over the coming 20-30 years?

Mike Childs: Portugal: it is a grat idea in that it recognises that money is often more powerful motivator than doing good. I'm not sure this would easily work in all countries, it depends if the public can be persuaded (politicians are very weak at anything that looks like a tax)

Slovakia2: •What can we do in our school about this condition to make it more environmentally friendly and where to get money to reach the best solution?

EUN-Petru: Last group of schools (Italy11, Portugal2, BosniaH, FYROM and Greece) please be ready in 6-7 minutes

France: Wind turbines are often too expensive for people to buy. Are there any programmes to make renewable energies more affordable for simple citizens?

Mike Childs: Romania - busy lives, people don't think about it or are not aware of scale of challenge. This is why young people demanding action is powerful - if kids start campaigning people will sit up and take notice Poland10: what materials do you think are best to protect climate?

Mike Childs: Romania - financial incentives, like disposal taxes, generally work well. Industry doesn't like them generally.

Mike Childs: Poland - we are already seeing more extreme weather. t is more difficult to predictr short term wether changes (10-20 years) than it is longer term (50 years). BUt greater heatwaves and more extreme rainfall is likely

Portugal2: This is in fact our seconnd question:Another measure suggested was that the government and all state enterprises should have fleets of hybrid cars/vehicles and should reduce taxes for those who bought these vehicles. The last one is to carry out measures of frequent cleanings on Portuguese forests to promote the collection of waste and use it as fuel in thermo-electrical centrals. What’s your opinion about our measures?

italy11: Which are the main contributors of carbon emission worldwide?

Mike Childs: Slovakia - Schools need to think long term and recognise that they are an important and visable part f communities They should fully insulate and use renewable power. Local authorities should provide the money, but working in partnership with local industries can also help

Poland10: What do you think of breeding and raising animals for industrial reasons? The animals there are fed on artificially produced food.

Mike Childs: France - in germany they pay you for the amount of electricity you generate (so called feed-in tariffs) that makes it financially worthwhile (as well as environmentally good)

 EUN-Petru: Thank you! Let's move to the last group of schools: Italy11, Portugal2, BosniaH, FYROM and Greece

romania: Thank you very much!

Mike Childs: Poland - the materials that are best are lightweight and strong. Plastics can be very good. Materials from natural sources are also good (wood, paper)

France: Thanks a lot for your answers