Welcome to the K.E.E.P.Club!
K.E.E.P. stands for
KIDS EXPECT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
And they do!
We area grades 5-8 Environmental Club at the Driscoll School in Brookline
We meet on Thursdays from 2:35-3:40
and at special events throughout the year
We have five branches to our KEEP club:
• Reducing Single Use Plastics
• Species Protection
• Reforestation
• Climate Change
• and our Driscoll Bird Sanctuary & Garden
Currently, our biggest focus is reducing single use plastics because it is something we can all do right away to help our earth. And, as KEEP club member Neil Saran said, "Everyone should know that reducing plastics connects to every one of our KEEP club branches."
• Reducing Single Use Plastics
• Species Protection
• Reforestation
• Climate Change
• and our Driscoll Bird Sanctuary & Garden
Currently, our biggest focus is reducing single use plastics because it is something we can all do right away to help our earth. And, as KEEP club member Neil Saran said, "Everyone should know that reducing plastics connects to every one of our KEEP club branches."
12/12/19 - KEEP club meeting!
We are working hard on a number of projects to KEEP our planet cared for and our community informed. Stay tuned for 2020 actions.
Mural completed 2/13/20 by KEEP club 8th graders Calder Shen, Charlotte Toole, Hattie Liang, Lila Horberg Decter, Rohan Brown, Sarah Mautner-Mazlen
If you want more information about the KEEP club or want to join us, please contact: kidskeepclub@gmail.com
or.. you can contact: Francesca Stark: Driscoll School Teacher and Founder of KEEP Club francesca_stark@psbma.org
KEEP CLUB
UPDATES & Environmental News!
KEEP CLUB CAN KEEP ON GOING--- from a distance but not out of touch!
What do you think we can do for the earth and ourselves while we are quarantined?
-- We can still make reusable bags and try to get them allowed again...
-- We can still write letters- and change.org petitions
-- We can still create art- See the BOW SEAT LINK FOR IDEAS - HERE
AND FOR A COMPETITION!
We can still plant trees, create gardens, develop bird sanctuaries and beautify our world.
-- We can still make reusable bags and try to get them allowed again...
-- We can still write letters- and change.org petitions
-- We can still create art- See the BOW SEAT LINK FOR IDEAS - HERE
AND FOR A COMPETITION!
We can still plant trees, create gardens, develop bird sanctuaries and beautify our world.
Pandemic Deals Blow to Plastic Bag Bans, Plastic Reduction- NYT Article- Click here
The plastic industry is making a profit and new gains because of corona... do not let them undo all the work we have done.... We may be home, but we can KEEP working to protect our planet!
Tuesday, 3/31/20: The Plastic Wars: Frontline - Click here for preview:
Plastic bags are back! See (listen) to this news: It points out the following:
As many of you know, I (Ms. Stark) am a huge fan of wildlife, birds and the DC eagle nest. For the last few years, we have watched the pair of eagles fix up their nest, lay eggs, hatch their chicks and raise them until the chicks fledge. For the last two years... no eggs! Why are the DC eagles not producing eggs? If you click on this text, you can see an informative and important video made to explain why there is a good chance it is from human pollution... this video is not fun, but super important to know about. Click here to watch, learn and take action. You will see lots and lots of collected plastic bottles! Argh.
DC Eagles together in and around the nest - photos taken by Ms. Stark from the live cam.
EARTH DAY! Here are some great ideas...
Plastic Oceans- Earth Day Newsletter with ideas and options
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, WGBH celebrates air, land and water. Click here
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, WGBH celebrates air, land and water. Click here
-Let's think what we can do to learn about and stop the following:
Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline by Bill McKibben
4/13/20! Coronavirus Fears Prompt Suspensions Of Bans On Single-Use Plastic Bag- click here to learn more... we should not let this happen while we remain indoors... letters could be written.. petitions, etc.
3/31/20: NPR:Plastic Wars: Industry Spent Millions Selling Recycling — To Sell More Plastic
The Plastic Industry Association is pressuring officials to reintroduce plastic bags. In a March 18 letter to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar, association President Tony Radoszewski asked the federal government to support single-use plastic bags to help fight the pandemic. The association cites several studies finding that reusables can carry bacteria and viruses.
But Massachusetts Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat and one of the the leading legislative advocates for a plastic bag ban, says that scientific research showing a health threat from reusable bags is flawed.
But Massachusetts Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat and one of the the leading legislative advocates for a plastic bag ban, says that scientific research showing a health threat from reusable bags is flawed.
Click here to dig into earth day!
Less than a month away!
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KEEP Club heads to the State House with Petitions for the Bottle Bill
KEEP CLUB GOES TO THE STATE HOUSE!!
It was exciting to bring such a big pile of signatures from our community to the State House on Tuesday, February 4th . Right until the last minute, KEEPers were gathering signatures. There were between 150-200 signatures! Go KEEP Club.
Our little petition delivering sub committee had the chance to meet with Senator Barrett who is the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (that title is a mouthful so it's also called TUE). Then we met with Senator Creem - see below
who is the Majority Leader in the Senate and who sponsored the bill. She brought the students into her large office and we all sat down and she asked questions and shared information about the bill. She said if it doesn't pass this time, she wanted to know if KEEP club students would go next year, probably during the school day and speak at a hearing. No one rejected that idea. :) After we left, Senator Creem sent out this tweet! https://twitter.com/cindycreem/status/1224804131623272448
Last we met with Representative Thomas Golden who is the Co Chair of the TUE with Senator Barrett. He brought us into his lively and cozy office and listened to each keep club member- listening to why they chose to be part of this work. It was inspiring to see how caring he was and how much he respects the work of the students who speak to him. He said he did not think the Bill would pass this time. So it looks like we may need to go back next year.
All the Senators and Representatives and staff were impressed with how many signatures the KEEP club gathered and how many students, teachers and families were on the petition. I think they feel more hope when they see a community working together. They hope we will join forces with other communities, and they hope students will listen to the perspective of others who will not vote for the bill to see their side too.
Go KEEP club- Keep it up.
It was exciting to bring such a big pile of signatures from our community to the State House on Tuesday, February 4th . Right until the last minute, KEEPers were gathering signatures. There were between 150-200 signatures! Go KEEP Club.
Our little petition delivering sub committee had the chance to meet with Senator Barrett who is the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (that title is a mouthful so it's also called TUE). Then we met with Senator Creem - see below
who is the Majority Leader in the Senate and who sponsored the bill. She brought the students into her large office and we all sat down and she asked questions and shared information about the bill. She said if it doesn't pass this time, she wanted to know if KEEP club students would go next year, probably during the school day and speak at a hearing. No one rejected that idea. :) After we left, Senator Creem sent out this tweet! https://twitter.com/cindycreem/status/1224804131623272448
Last we met with Representative Thomas Golden who is the Co Chair of the TUE with Senator Barrett. He brought us into his lively and cozy office and listened to each keep club member- listening to why they chose to be part of this work. It was inspiring to see how caring he was and how much he respects the work of the students who speak to him. He said he did not think the Bill would pass this time. So it looks like we may need to go back next year.
All the Senators and Representatives and staff were impressed with how many signatures the KEEP club gathered and how many students, teachers and families were on the petition. I think they feel more hope when they see a community working together. They hope we will join forces with other communities, and they hope students will listen to the perspective of others who will not vote for the bill to see their side too.
Go KEEP club- Keep it up.
Bye to plastic! Take a peek at our new page
CALLING ALL KEEPERS:
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Be Informed- Stay Informed!Zero Waste Week is Coming! Let's get our goals in shape! Click here for information!
NATIONAL Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion To Fight Climate Change, Planet's 'Biggest Click here t0 read! The question is... what is he doing about packaging?2/13/20: Students Call For Mass. Colleges To Divest From Fossil Fuel Companies In National Protest- Click here
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1/30/20: Special guest Clint Richmond came back to help us gear up for an updated State bottle bill law!Who is Clint Richmond? Clint is a volunteer with the Massachusetts Sierra Club. He leads several areas including solid waste and toxics issues. This includes fighting plastic pollution. He serves as a member of Brookline Town Meeting and is the co-chair of the Green Caucus of Town Meeting Members. He is also a member of the Brookline Solid Waste Advisory Committee. He has successfully led efforts to pass Warrant Articles at Town meeting on topics such as plastic bags, polystyrene and food packaging. Clint is helping us gear up for the Massachusetts State Bottle Bill: Read more here!
KEEP Club receives
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12/8/20: Last week, an ecologist at the University of Sydney estimated that nearly half a billion animals had been wiped out since Australia's devastating wildfires started spreading in September. Now, he says that number has soared to over 800 million in New South Wales and over 1 billion nationally. KEEP club is going to step up! Please join us.
Want to join in and help out? It helps to must be informed. We highly recommend (*KEEP club members should all watch, listen to or read) the following films and articles to have enough background knowledge to make our case! Click here!12/5/19 - Some groups are fighting back against the compressor station - and getting arrested for doing so! See today's news!
The Story of Plastic is now a full length film! Click here for the trailer. Everyone should see it. KEEP club will be showing it at the first of its kind (that we know about) Earth Night!Is it a done deal?
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Yard Work- Can be green work! Click the news article here: Let the Leaves Be and Feed the Birds- about why it's better to KEEP those leaves. Then take a look at the leaf Snag the KEEP club made with our outstanding garden keeper teacher, Victor Kusmin.
10/29/19: KEEP CLUB WINS HONORABLE MENTION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
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Results of the second global #BreakFreeFromPlastic brand audit exposing:Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo as the biggest plastic polluters in 2019.
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A group of Driscoll Students participated in the climate strike on Friday, 9/20/19- they stood in silent solidarity to show they are not just
"talking the talk"
but willing to take a stand!
Representative Tommy Vitolo joined in too and spoke to our youth activists about other options they can continue to do that will make a difference!
6/14/19- Keep Club's last official meeting of year- submitting accomplishments for the BOW seat competition and making plans for next year!
4/25/19: KEEP Club celebrated earth day by gardening, picking up litter, making signs, and working on the new planter. Many KEEP club members are not seen in the photos because of their litter clean up around the school. More photos on the photos/media page!
3/12/19: KEEP CLUB
TEACHING TEACHERS SUB-GROUP
PRESENTS AT FACULTY MEETING!
KEEP Club will celebrate Earth Day in our Bird Sanctuary on Sunday, 4/21/19! We will assemble new planters, paint them and plant new pollinator friendly plants!
We will also do some collecting and documenting of litter in our neighborhood and create some earth day art- including the painting of rocks and bird houses for our sanctuary.
7th grade KEEP Club members Hattie and Lila created this flyer for families to KEEP their lunches and snacks earth friendly.
EARTH DAY IS COMING SOON!
Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day!
The theme this year is to protect our species!
Here is the official EARTH DAY link:
https://www.earthday.org/campaigns/endangered-species/earthday2019/
It's a school day, so the KEEP club will be making sure students are thinking about what they might do to honor this important day!
1/24/19 - KEEP Club progress
Around 30 KEEP club students are showing up every Thursday. This week we welcomed two new members and Mr. Olivera too. One KEEP club member suggested that I (Ms. S) send out the agenda ahead of time so there is less talk and more actions taken in the time we have. That makes a lot of sense. We have a lot to do. Stay tuned.
KEEP Club Progress:
One of our KEEP club members, Kassra Shahbazi, designed and printed a KEEP club t-shirt with his own design. Photo coming soon.
Another member, Chris Chen has designed business cards for us and printed out some label/stickers.
Next we need to find companies that are environmentally friendly to make our merch! Any suggestions? Write to us at kidskeepclub@gmail.com
We have a lot of projects going on, once I (Ms. Stark) feel better after this bug, I will post more updates.
KEEPing up the good work...
Keep club members are making posters, designing web pages, making keep club scratch games, cleaning up trash, providing bird food for birds (and squirrels), writing letters to companies, and coming up with logos for up and coming KEEP club merchandise. KEEP club members are doing research into companies that treat their workers well and use eco friendly materials.
Keep club signed up for a table at the INspo/ Expo on January 21st- MLK Day- Click here to read the flyer!
Some of the KEEP club doing work at the INspo Expo
1/21/19: KEEP Club- showed up, educated others and collected over 100 signatures to stop Ottos Pizza from using the plastic mesh liners.
Click here to read the letter written to Ottos Pizza
Driscoll KEEP Club will participate at the Brookline Inspo-Expo- on January 21st, 2019. See more information here.
KEEP Club members made their case for why the new Driscoll should be a green school!
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KEEP club raises awareness and over $200.00 at the Driscoll Science Fair! Go KEEP club!
EARTH DAY- KEEP CLUB STYLE!
On Sunday, 4/22/18, the KEEP club met in the bird sanctuary to plant some bird attracting plants and to pick up litter around the school! It was a beautiful way to spend the day.
11/8/18- Below are a few photos of the KEEP club working in their teams.
We are having between 30-35 students showing up every week! Go KEEP Club!
KEEP Club is reuniting this Thursday, 12/13/18 from 2:35-3:45 - We can't wait for everyone to KEEP going with all the inspirational work going on.
On Thursday, 10/25/18, KEEP club's
special guest, Ren Bettencourt,
from Bow Seat... arrived!
After the KEEP club reviewed Bow Seat's student designed artwork from around the world, and watched a video about an award winning advocacy project, we reviewed next steps for our KEEP club teams. Next week, each team will get right to work making their action plans.
Although at first it was hard to find Ren, after a few search parties, she was found and we all clapped when she came in loaded with thought provoking art work, a video she had on a disk drive, and paper for the KEEP club to write down their thinking. We had an excellent turn-out and many thoughtful responses. See below.
SPECIAL GUEST COMING!
This Thursday, 3/22/18 at 2:35 pm Clint Richmond will be at KEEP CLUB!
On Thursday, 10/25/18, the KEEP club will have a special guest. Her name is Ren Bettencourt and she is the project coordinator of a great organization called: Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs. Click here: You can see what a great organization it is.
Plastic Has A Big Carbon Footprint by Chrisotpher Joyce,
Plastic waste gets a lot of attention when photos of dead whales with stomachs full of plastic bags hit the news. Pieces of plastic also litter cities, and tiny plastic particles are even floating in the air.Largely overlooked is how making plastic in the first place affects the environment, especially global warming. Plastic actually has a big carbon footprint, but so do many of the alternatives to plastic. And that's what makes replacing plastic a problem without a clear solution. Read more here...
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See these stories-
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6/17/19: Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit? Cool article that connects to our goals! You can LISTEN to it here! |
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KEEP Brushing... but brush with eco friendly brushes- take a look at the National Geographic article below!
How your toothbrush became a part of the plastic crisis
A billion toothbrushes will be thrown away in the U.S. this year, most of them plastic.
How did we get here, and can we change?
A billion toothbrushes will be thrown away in the U.S. this year, most of them plastic.
How did we get here, and can we change?
KEEP Club is in the news! KEEP club member Neil Saran wrote an article and it was put in the Brookline Tab- Click here is the link!
KEEP Cutting Back on Plastic:
It's not easy to purchase without plastic- here's one company who is helping... Read this article: Shampoo And Ice Cream In A Metal Can? Meet 'Loop,' A New Way To Cut Down On Plastic Waste
"I don't know if you've ever seen a plastic bag on a fence flapping away until it disappears," he (Steve Allen, a researcher at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland) says. "Well, we thought that maybe it just doesn't disappear, so we started looking for it a bit higher up."
Higher up meaning 4,500 feet up a mountain. Allen's team set up collectors there for five months to trap plastic particles as they fell to Earth. "We expected to find some," Allen says. "We didn't expect to find quite as much as we did." Read on here...
Higher up meaning 4,500 feet up a mountain. Allen's team set up collectors there for five months to trap plastic particles as they fell to Earth. "We expected to find some," Allen says. "We didn't expect to find quite as much as we did." Read on here...
The Story of Plastic has a lot of information and videos to help us spread the word: https://www.storyofplastic.org/learn-crisis
More movies from The Story of Plastic movies: https://storyofstuff.org/the-story-of-plastic/the-story-of-plastic-videos/
They are a series of small documentaries.
One is called:
The Story of Plastic:
How plastic production pollutes small towns.
Another one is called:
The Story of Plastic:
The plastic bag diet!
Both are excellent and should be watched!
Where will all the plastic go?
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KEEP Club will participate in Zero Waste Week! See more information here! |
Have you seen the little video Man vs.
Earth? KEEP club members found it.
Click here to see it!
It is by the spoken word artist, poet and film maker who goes by the name Prince EA. The film sings and shows the message we are fighting for.
5/7/19: HERE IS THE TIME FOR KIDS VERSION
CALLED- CLIMATE CRISIS
EARTH DAY is coming... Last year, the focus was preventing plastic pollution. I found this AMAZING plastic pollution primer and action tool kit with every type of resource, article, video, fact collected to help us on our mission: Click here for the link:
Treehugger.com is a great site for eco-green news, ideas and education. I highly recommend it for all KEEP club members. Here is one page from their website with many good links. www.treehugger.com/science/
Here is an article about why we should avoid using plastics food containers: www.treehugger.com/plastic/avoid-plastic-food-containers-new-report-says.html
4/16/19: Study Shows Decline In Wild Bees That Pollinate Major New England Fruit Crops- Click here! This is another reason why we need to protect our birds butterflies and bees and take care of our flora and fauna!
4/16/19: GO MAINE!!!
FIRST STATE TO BAN STYROFOAM:
Maine lawmakers last month became the first in the country to approve a statewide ban on styrofoam food containers. Can we (KEEP club) help to make Massachusetts next?
Listen to and/or read this article called: Meet Mr. Trash Wheel: Baltimore Harbor's Googly Eyed Garbage Gobbler
3/23/19- Click here for BBC Plastic News - more about the whale and also a family going single use plastic free! Check it out!
**The Story Of Plastic Film has a large portion of it set in the same place as the whale was found.
BBC- NEWS:
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Just in... sad whale news:
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January 24th, 2019:
News about BIG companies like Nestle and Pepsi who are starting to ease up on plastics and use more glass and metal. Things can change. It's happening, we can nudge it along faster! Each day counts. Each life matters.
KEEP club members want to be part of this
This is another EXCELLENT film called Plastic Ocean that the KEEP club might show at Driscoll to help others understand the magnitude of plastics!
JANUARY 16th, 2019: Radio story on news!
More news about PLASTICS: connected to the other story below. It's about stopping the oceans of plastics in our oceans! Packaging group - and others - lots to consider! Click here!
JANUARY 15th:
An Island Crusader Takes On The Big Brands Behind Plastic Waste! Read this excellent article!!! It is exactly what the KEEP club is all about!
www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/01/15/683734379/an-island-crusader-takes-on-the-big-brands-behind-plastic-waste
JANUARY 5th Plastic News:
The Ocean Clean-Up hitting snags, but still raising awareness and doing some good. Clearly there is more we can all do!
Read more here!
Monday, 12/17/18: 60 Minutes (the t.v. news show) focused their latest segment on all the PLASTIC!
CLICK HERE TO SEE what they have to show and tell us all.
Maybe more people will see why the KEEP Club is working so hard to slow down the use of plastic.
Boston Bans Plastic Bags Starting Today, 12/14/18- Here's the news article! Some small businesses are exempt if they can prove it is too much of a hardship.
Right Whales Arrive Early In Cape Cod Bay- December 12th- 2018- Click here
Watertown Becomes 1st Town In New England To Require Solar Panels On New Commercial Constructions- Click here for more info.
New Nature movies- For KEEP Club inspiration! Click here!
11/23/18- BIG CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS:
From the New York Times:
A major scientific report issued by 13 federal agencies... of the consequences of climate change
See the rest of the article here:
CLICK HERE:FOR THE ACTUAL FEDERAL REPORT:
Below is a sad, sad photo from recent news, but I think you will agree it is important to see the effect of plastics...
11/20/18- Sad whale news -
National Geographic Version Click Here
BBC News Dead sperm whale found in Indonesia had ingested '6kg of plastic'. The sperm whale, which washed ashore in Indonesia, had ingested nearly 6kg of plastic waste. Read the full story
11/15/18- Very sad news related to sea turtles! Ocean plastics and marine debris once again! Click here for the article!
11/15/18 -RIGHT WHALE NEWS! - Fewer right whales than they thought! :( - Click here for more... there is some hope...
Lonely Whale is an organization that has successfuly reduced people's use of plastic straws and is doing a lot to reduce plastic.
See this little video of their story- Click here
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Plastic Pollution
in the NEWS- BBC
October 17th:
Plastic & Salt: See this article about why there is so much plastic in the salt we eat!
Student Activism!
Click here to see the climate change slide show by KEEP club member Noah Kleiner
Education: Many adults and children do not yet know what can and can't be recycled. Here is a video to help:
www.casella.com/services/recycling/recycle-better
What do you think of the logo below? How does it connect to the KEEP club?
4/2/19: More sad whale news. National Geographic reports: Pregnant whale died with 50 pounds of plastic in her stomach: The Mediterranean Sea is choked with plastic waste, and the sperm whale may be the latest casualty of the pollution problem.
Click here to read the National Geographic article - we will use it to continue our work.
Kids Expect Environmental Protection
STOPPING THE USE OF PLASTIC STRAWS
We are starting with some work right at our school.
The Keep Club is working to get straws removed from Driscoll
and around our community.
Help us out. Let people know why they need to stop using them! See more information in the plastics branch of our webpage. As we say in the KEEP club, one little straw can do a lot of damage. Don't let it be yours.
We are starting with some work right at our school.
The Keep Club is working to get straws removed from Driscoll
and around our community.
Help us out. Let people know why they need to stop using them! See more information in the plastics branch of our webpage. As we say in the KEEP club, one little straw can do a lot of damage. Don't let it be yours.
One little straw and one plastic cup becomes millions...
See some information about this at this link if you click
Trash Talk- A little movie about what is happening in our oceans and what to do
NO STRAWS!
Here is the #Stop Sucking Link with alternatives to plastic straws!
https://www.strawlessocean.org/alternatives/
SAY NO STRAW PLEASE! Please join us to stop plastic straws close to home, far and wide!
http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/no-straw-please/
http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/no-straw-please/
GUEST VISITOR
Marianna Hagbloom is coming to the KEEP CLUB on 1/25/18 to share her experiences and knowledge about the highly intelligent and critically endangered Right Whale - Read her blog here-
RIGHT WHALES CRITICALLY ENDANGERED! Radio Boston has a news story about our state whale! Helping these whales can help lots of sea life and our life too! See this story.
Our beautiful, intelligent state whale is at high risk of extinction- fishing nets causing a great deal of harm! - new lobster traps could help! click here for the story!
More info about them here-
Sylvia Earle - Ted Talk Wish for Oceans! Mission Blue...
Learn more about dolphins and whales from a group trying to protect them- Click here
GHOST GEAR (Discarded fishing gear) KILLING MARINE LIFE! - See the article that explains more
LAWS TO CHANGE AND WORK ON
Plastic Bag Reduction
H.2121 / S.424 Sponsors: Rep. Lori Ehrlich, Sen. Jamie Eldridge. Would ban single-use plastic shopping bags statewide and require that the alternatives be more sustainable (such as paper bags must have at least 40% minimum post-consumer content).
Public Water not Bottled Water
H.3451 Sponsor: Rep. Chris Walsh. Stipulates that state funds shall not be used to purchase bottled water for use in facilities that are served by public water supplies or potable well water, except when required for safety, health or emergency situations. This bill will save the Commonwealth money, and reduce solid waste and litter.
Polystyrene Food Ware Ban
H.3252 Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik, Sen. Michael Barrett. Would ban the sale of polystyrene foam food containers and their use by food establishments.
H.2121 / S.424 Sponsors: Rep. Lori Ehrlich, Sen. Jamie Eldridge. Would ban single-use plastic shopping bags statewide and require that the alternatives be more sustainable (such as paper bags must have at least 40% minimum post-consumer content).
Public Water not Bottled Water
H.3451 Sponsor: Rep. Chris Walsh. Stipulates that state funds shall not be used to purchase bottled water for use in facilities that are served by public water supplies or potable well water, except when required for safety, health or emergency situations. This bill will save the Commonwealth money, and reduce solid waste and litter.
Polystyrene Food Ware Ban
H.3252 Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik, Sen. Michael Barrett. Would ban the sale of polystyrene foam food containers and their use by food establishments.
This year's Earth Day is set to focus on...
Plastic Pollution- Click here to learn more!
Officially Earth Day is Sunday, April 22nd, but that is during our April Vacation, so the KEEP club will be doing something before or after spring break?
Stay tuned!
LOCAL NEWS: Have you noticed more Canada Goose coats around? DID YOU KNOW THAT FUR TRIM ON A CANADA GOOSE COAT IS COYOTE FUR?
Did you know the torture these canines go through in the process?
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Recently, one can see more and more people around Brookline and Boston wearing Canada Goose coats with fur trim.
Many coats have fake fur trim, but Canada Goose uses real coyote fur and there are HORRIFYING videos and photos showing the way these poor animals are trapped and killed just so people can wear it on their coats!
I can't and won't look, but if you own a Canada Goose coat or know someone who does, you should know what you are buying.
Sincerely,
Ms. Stark
Many coats have fake fur trim, but Canada Goose uses real coyote fur and there are HORRIFYING videos and photos showing the way these poor animals are trapped and killed just so people can wear it on their coats!
I can't and won't look, but if you own a Canada Goose coat or know someone who does, you should know what you are buying.
- www.thedp.com/article/2018/02/carlos-canada-goose-animal-cruelty
- www.onegreenplanet.org/news/canada-goose-is-killing-coyotes-to-make-jackets/
- Cruelty Inside Canada Goose Coats- link
Sincerely,
Ms. Stark
GOOD NEWS!!
5 ways the United Kingdom is leading the fight against plastic pollution - Great news for us to try- click here
5 ways the United Kingdom is leading the fight against plastic pollution - Great news for us to try- click here
Blue Planet 2 - Helping people around the world to see how plastics are destroying so much life...
Two sad videos--- don't watch if you can't bear it, but do show to others who don't understand how each of the plastics they use and throw away can harm so much life...
So many people mean no harm, but don't understand.
--- this one shows the albatross birds with plastic
-- Here is a sad, sad clip of a mother pilot whale and her calf that died... probably from plastics...
Two sad videos--- don't watch if you can't bear it, but do show to others who don't understand how each of the plastics they use and throw away can harm so much life...
So many people mean no harm, but don't understand.
--- this one shows the albatross birds with plastic
-- Here is a sad, sad clip of a mother pilot whale and her calf that died... probably from plastics...
NEWS TO KNOW: Tide of plastic rubbish discovered floating off idyllic Caribbean island coastline - and what to do... click here
Coffee cups... paper & the plastic you don't see- little video...click here
CHALLENGE FOR US ALL! “Do you still use plastic garbage bags? Plastic soda bottles? Zip lock bags? Plastic wrap on your food? Do you buy toilet paper that comes wrapped in plastic instead of paper? Do you put your fruit and vegetables in produce bags at the grocery?" Challenging everyone to track their rubbish for a week, she said people would be “disgusted” at how much plastic they would find.
Here are some links for tracking your plastics:
challenges.openideo.com/challenge/circular-design/research/assignments/track-plastics
challenges.openideo.com/challenge/circular-design/research/assignments/track-plastics
We launched the club on Thursday, November 9, 2017; we will meet every Thursday for the rest of the year unless there is a vacation or other closing of school. Once we are up and running, there will be many ways to participate and stay connected. Keep (no pun intended) checking back to see the latest news.
Every day is Earth Day!
NEW NEWS! Important proof!
December 03, 2019 Microplastics a million times more abundant in the ocean than previously thought
Mini-microplastics uncovered in the stomachs of filter-feeding marine organisms- Read here!
We could use your support in one of your many projects. See below.
If they can do it, we can do it!
Head Of The Charles® Regatta Announced Sustainability Initiative-
Read here for the details.
BUT
at Driscoll, this year they started to sell bottled water again!
---
How can this be when in 2016, the town of Brookline signed By-law 8.36, which bans the use of Town funds to purchase bottled water.
What does this mean for the bottled water served at the Driscoll cafeteria? It's a clear violation of the law.
Therefore, the KEEP Club will be taking action to make sure the law is followed and the selling of bottled water is stopped!
NEWS: A New Hampshire landfill has won renewal of a permit that allows it to send up to 100,000 gallons a day of polluted runoff to a Massachusetts plant that treats water bound for a major drinking water source. Click here to read more... What can we do? The KEEP club doesn't understand how the permit to pollute was given.
Greta Thunberg Is The 'Time' Person Of The Year For 2019- Click here to read why!
11/24/19: Massachusetts is closer to banning plastic bags in the entire state. Our governor might not back the bill:
See TWO articles here:
June 17, 2019:
Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit? Read and/or listen to this interesting article by Christopher Joyce.
Go KEEP Club!
KEEP Club raised over $500 at the spring fair! And NO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES WERE SOLD!
We will donate a portion to the Driscoll PTO for agreeing not to sell plastic water bottles! Go KEEP Club! - #Less plastic more fun!
More photos here!
We will donate a portion to the Driscoll PTO for agreeing not to sell plastic water bottles! Go KEEP Club! - #Less plastic more fun!
More photos here!
Earth day Network is making t-shirts.Click here to see their shirts.
We can look at the company, Kastlefel, to see if they might be good for making our KEEP club t-shirts. They seem like a wonderful company, Here is their link: www.kastlfel.com
KEEP club has joined the #Break Free From Plastic movement: Here is their site!
Earth Night will be an event that occurs after the sun has gone down. We will be showing a movie about plastics, eating organic popcorn, selling merchandise to raise money and awareness and having a gallery of art and information. The date has not yet been determined.
11/17/19: Senator Tom Udall Takes on Plastic Waste: Great piece to read and listen to: Click here and/or read the synopsis below from the show LIving On Earth :
"As more and more plastic waste escapes into our environment, recent research estimates that as much as a credit card’s worth of plastic makes its way into our bodies each week. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) aim to curb the plastic waste crisis with a draft bill that would ban certain single-use plastics, institute a 10-cent nationwide container deposit, and compel producers to take the lead on recycling. They invite the public to comment on this proposed legislation by November 21. Senator Udall discusses why federal action is needed to address the growing plastic waste crisis.
Good News In the News for whales: 10/20/19
Click here- Maine Lobstermen Group Now Willing To Work With Feds To Protect Right Whales
The KEEP club had a busy meeting today. We are learning more about what's been accomplished and what we will do for the science fair and for our community. We are creating checklists, certificates, merchandise plans, art work, podcasts and possibly, a little video clip for an up and coming movie. See this link: https://plasticoceans.org/submit-youth-videos/
How to do a radio-podcast! Keep Club!
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD Thursday December 13, 2018 at 7:00pm at BHS. Driscoll expansion and renovation will be discussed, so the 'A Better Driscoll' Sub group will be sharing some of their KEEP club ideas for the new building.
Warrant for Special Town Meeting 12/13/18 Article Explanations
12/6/18- KEEP CLUB Sub-Committee - "A Better Driscoll" makes a 'public comment' at the Brookline School Committee Meeting!
On Tuesday, the KEEP club found out that the updated agenda for the Brookline School Committee on Thursday, 12/6/18 included a discussion around the Driscoll Education Plan and a possible vote on a Fossil Free School Building. This inspired the KEEP Club sub-committee made up of 7th graders to show up at the school committee meeting and share their hopes for a greener Driscoll school now and when the renovations occur. Go KEEP Club!
We are meeting again this Thursday, 11/29/18.
It will be great to reunite and review the progress you've made and plans we have for next steps.
Millions Of Tons Of Plastic Are Dumped In The Ocean Every Year. We Don't Know Where Most Of It Ends Up
- Click here to listen or read more: ** The KEEP club knows that there is a mission from Boyan Slat to clean up a great deal of plastic coating our oceans. But the article above shows that there is also a great deal that is sinking down.
10/18/19
Plastic Alternatives- Shampoo And Ice Cream In A Metal Can? Meet 'Loop,' A New Way To Cut Down On Plastic Waste- Read/Listen here!
Friday, September 20, 2019
Students around the world (and adults too), came together to stand up for the planet!
July 30, 2019
Plastics Or People? At Least 1 Of Them Has To Change To Clean Up Our Mess:
by Christopher Joyce:
The avalanche of plastic waste that's rolling over land and sea has inspired numerous potential solutions. Some involve inventing our way out of the mess by creating new kinds of natural materials that will harmlessly degrade if they're thrown away. Others say it might be quicker to change people's throwaway behavior instead.
Among the first group is Stephen Mayfield. He's a chemist who figured out how to turn various kinds of algae into raw plastic --
Plastics Or People? At Least 1 Of Them Has To Change To Clean Up Our Mess:
by Christopher Joyce:
The avalanche of plastic waste that's rolling over land and sea has inspired numerous potential solutions. Some involve inventing our way out of the mess by creating new kinds of natural materials that will harmlessly degrade if they're thrown away. Others say it might be quicker to change people's throwaway behavior instead.
Among the first group is Stephen Mayfield. He's a chemist who figured out how to turn various kinds of algae into raw plastic --
June 2019: Excellent series on plastics called, The Plastic Tide... see/hear all the excellent stories by clicking here!
June 6: Microplastics Have Invaded The Deep Ocean — And The Food Chain
Click here to listen and read
5/6/19: One million species face extinction, U.N. report says. And humans will suffer as a result.Click here to read the report!
5/6/19: The news below is not a complete surprise to environmentalists like members of the KEEP club, but it is a wake up call to those who don't realize how important it is to pay attention and act NOW!
We are starting to go into new KEEP club teams. Below you can see some of the work/goals/questions KEEP 10/18/18 meeting.
We had our first meeting! It was fun and inspiring to see everyone. We are learning about each other, sharing what we discovered over the summer and goals for this year. There is a lot to learn and a lot to do!
Greetings!
The KEEP CLUB will have its first meeting of the 2018-2019 year on Thursday, October 11th from 2:35 to 3:30 in room 302.
At this meeting we will explore new goals, news, and different ways people can stay involved whether or not they can or can't come to every meeting.
I am looking forward to seeing you again and hearing what you are hoping to accomplish this year.
Sincerely,
Ms. Stark
The KEEP CLUB will have its first meeting of the 2018-2019 year on Thursday, October 11th from 2:35 to 3:30 in room 302.
At this meeting we will explore new goals, news, and different ways people can stay involved whether or not they can or can't come to every meeting.
I am looking forward to seeing you again and hearing what you are hoping to accomplish this year.
Sincerely,
Ms. Stark
Some latest victories written in National Geographic in the fight to reduce single use plastics- updated October 2018
The KEEP Club is invited to set up a table at the New England Right Whale Festival in front of the New England Aquarium. It will be a chance to share more information about how we are working to reduce and clean up plastics in order to improve the world we're in!
Using and Abusing Mountain Peaks!
A record number of Mt. Everest climbers are scrambling to the top and littering the mountain from top to bottom!
KEEP CLUB CARAVAN WILL BE GOING ON THE ROAD!
That's right, the new KEEP Club Caravan is gearing up to take our message on the road. We are learning that in order to make change you can't just put up posters and write about it. You have to be willing to get up and speak directly to people.
The KEEP club is getting ready to go into classrooms, faculty meetings and town meeting. Stay tuned!
The KEEP club is getting ready to go into classrooms, faculty meetings and town meeting. Stay tuned!
KEEP Club raises $200 at Science Fair!
Below is the flyer Marty and Alon made to educate others
Stay tuned for our up and coming events!
Stay tuned for our up and coming events!
