Somerset lifetimes 2019 Semester 1

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SPEAKERS Melati Wijsen

Melati Wijsen is a 17 year old activist who grew up in Bali, Indonesia. Melati realised early on her island home was becoming a dumping ground for waste, especially plastics. She was inspired from attending her sustainably focused school and with her 10 year old sister founded the social initiative Bye Bye Plastic Bags at just 12 years old. Together they are intent on taking their vision to rid the world of plastic bags worldwide. Today their organisation has spanned 25 locations across the globe with founders continuing to share their mission “to empower people to do what is right through education.” Molly Steer TAKE THE STRAW NO MORE PLEDGE Molly is a 10 year old Australian school student and vocal activist in the fight against plastic pollution, particularly the plastic straw. In March 2017 she attended a film screening of A Plastic Ocean which motivated her to begin thinking about how she could help. When Molly discovered humans use more than 500 million straws everyday she knew she had to act and started by convincing her Principal to stop using plastic straws at the school tuckshop. Other schools in the area caught on and wanted to join in. Today schools from all over Australia and the world are involved in Molly’s initiative, Straw No More. Katie Norman CEO, Sustainable Schools Network

Melati Wijsen (second from left) with organisers and speakers

Straw No More campaigner Molly Steer

KEY HIGHLIGHTS • The panel discussion during the evening event • Year 6 student, Phoebe Rogers (6W) delivering the personalised acknowledgement to country in local dialect Yugambeh • Ice breaking laughter in the Great Hall in the morning • Students, teachers and local NFP organisations engaging • Delicious 90 per cent sustainable meals sourced and provided by Mudjira Village Eatery • A breakdown of boundaries between states, schools, ages • Building capacity in schools, youth, teachers, administrators, grounds keepers, and local organisations enthused to work with schools to ensure a sustainable future for our children

Sustainable Symposium

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