If you think all teenagers want is to get hold of the latest gadget, think again. Action For Nature’s International Young Eco-Heroes Award for 2010 has announced the fourteen winners of this year’s edition of the award, which recognizes the green efforts of young people.
Every year since 2003, Action For Nature (AFN), a U.S.-based non-profit, has recognized young people ages 8-16 who are trying to solve tough environmental problems. Youth from countries around the world send in their stories and explain their work. A panel of judges, including experts in environmental science, biology and education determines the year’s winners. Each receives a cash prize, a certificate and other benefits.
Working with EarthCo Building Systems, Sarah Jo spent more than 425 hours helping build the earth block construction eco-center over two years. She learned to drive a backhoe and dump truck, and she worked on the construction tasks alongside the builders. She recruited more than 2,000 people to help build and/or donate to her cause, and together they volunteered more than 1,000 hours of work.
When the eco-center was completed in spring 2010, she named it the Lorax Lodge, after a Dr. Seuss character. “Even though Dr. Seuss used all these crazy words, he really knew what he was talking about,†Sarah Jo said. “He knew how to get kids involved.â€
The second top winner was Liam Bane O’Neil, a 11-year-old from Colorado. Liam Bane transformed an unused patch of land into a sustainable, organic garden that serves both the community and the local wildlife. He also started community composting and made sure no weed killers or synthetic fertilizers were used, which would have contaminated local water supplies. At one point, Bane counted as many as 50 birds feasting on the sunflowers. “I’m most proud of having this garden and having all the support we had,†Bane says. “I just enjoy giving.â€
Gates Bierhuizen, a 15-year-old from Culpeper, Virginia became concerned about how to dispose of unused medications when his grandfather passed away. He didn’t want to simply flush the pills down the drain. He contacted several medical and environmental organizations and realized how improper disposal of pharmaceuticals can contaminate water and impact wildlife. “It became more and more apparent that no one had a solutionâ€, he said.
So Gates took matters into his own hands. Partnering with a local agency and a reverse drug distributor, he founded a take-back program called STOP (Stop Throwing Out Pharmaceuticals). So far he has collected hundreds of pounds of pharmaceuticals and delivered them to the reverse drug distributor, which incinerates the drugs for energy.
Gates has also created brochures to be distributed at health fairs and the local library. His long-term goal is to see legislation pass that will provide the public with a safer way to dispose of unwanted medications.
When nine-year-old Brandon Wood, from Florida, found out about the plight of chimpanzees in entertainment and medical research laboratories, he realized that his love for chimps should not be expressed by keeping one as a pet, which goes against their nature, but by helping rescue them to Save the Chimps sanctuary.
Since December 2009, Brandon has raised from than $1,500 to transfer chips to Save the Chimps and will continue his fundraising campaign until he meets his target of $2,500. He also started a blog to educate people about chimpanzees and how they are mistreated by trainers and in laboratories. Brandon wrote his Congressperson in support of the Great Ape Protection Act, and gathered signatures for a petition supporting the Act. He has also collected blankets and treats to mail to different sanctuaries. “I have learned,†he says “that chimps have been in labs for years and people need to help them.â€
To find out more about this year’s winners, visit Action For Nature’s website.
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