Yuri Ito(participant)

*Group name

Ecology Club

*Country/Region

Aichi Prefecture (Mainly in Higashi Mikawa Area),  Japan

*Type of Group

Community

*Number of total members of your group/project

20 persons or more

*Number of regular participants in activities

20 persons or more

*Characteristic of members

We are mainly participants of the CWS, from grade school children to junior high school students. Since our ages are close, we get along together and think a lot about the environment.

*Theme(s) of your group/project

*Biodiversity, *Air pollution, *Others

*Missions and activities of your group/project

We do not have a clear vision for our activities yet. However, we make reports of our activities and exchange information on the internet through websites and blogs.

*Characteristics of the group/project activities

We are currently studying about biodiversity because one of the members who is a teacher at Sakuragi Elementary School knows a lot about biotope.

*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment

"Never forget what we learned and gained in the CWS"

*Major publications and articles

We announce our activities through our website and blog.

*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?

Basically, we would like to exchange information with anyone who is interested in environmental issues, but we would particularly like to have some talk with those who have knowledge and information on biodiversity and air pollution issue.

*Short message for exchange with other group/project

We are a group composed of elementary school and junior high school children, and therefore we are not acquainted with environmental issues. Yet, there are plenty of opportunities for us to ask for cooperation and support: to our parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, and etc. We hope to gather enough information to pursue further research.

*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi

It was really a good opportunity for us to learn many things. If it were just a domestic event, I wouldn't have had interest in attending it. To be honest, I was more interested in "listening and speaking English". Yet, it turned out to be a precious opportunity to know about environmental issues, and also the CWS taught me the importance of making action by ourselves. I was a bit interested in environmental issues in the past, but after the Summit I started to think about this topic even deeply. I am grateful to this wonderful event. Although I am beyond the age limit and cannot participate in future CWSs, I am always looking forward to participating in it as a volunteer.

*Others

I was given a chance to make a speech on the CWS in the H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest. One of the facts that motivated me to participate in this contest was the significance of being active in society. I have started to be aware of reducing CO2 emission, and for example, I try to turn of all the lights at home whenever I notice that no one is using it.